Oxidative Stress in Muscle Growth and Adaptation to Physical Exercise

Abstract

Abstract. In a few last decades oxidative stress detected in a variety of physiological processes where reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play a central role. They are directly involved in oxidation of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. In certain concentrations they are necessary for cell division, proliferation and apoptosis. Contractile muscle tissue at aerobic conditions form high ROS flow that may modulate a variety of cell functions, for example proliferation. However, slight increase in ROS level provide hormetic effect which may participate in adaptation to heavy weight training resulted in hypertrophy and proliferation of skeletal muscle fibers. This review will discuss ROS types, sites of generation, strategies to increase force production and achieve skeletal muscle hypertrophy.