Acute simulated soccer-specific training increases PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in human skeletal muscle

The aim of the current study is to quantify oxygen uptake, heart rate and molecular responses of human skeletal muscle associated with mitochondrial biogenesis following an acute bout of simulated soccer training. Muscle biopsies (vastus lateralis) were obtained from nine active men immediately pre-, post- and 3 h post-completion of a laboratory-based soccer-specific training simulation (LSSTS) on a motorised treadmill. The LSSTS was a similar intensity (55 ± 6% V˙ O2max) and duration (60-min) as that observed in professional soccer training (e.g. standing 41%, walking 37%, jogging 11%, high-speed running 9% and sprinting 2%). Post-exercise, muscle glycogen decreased (Pre; 397 ± 86 mmol∙kg-1 dw, Post; 344 ± 64 mmol∙kg-1 dw; P = 0.03), plasma lactate increased (P < 0.001) up to ~4-5 mmol.L-1, NEFA and glycerol increased (P < 0.001) to values of 0.6 ± 0.2 mmol.L-1 and 145 ± 54 μmol.L-1, respectively. PGC-1α mRNA increased (P = 0.009) 5-fold 3 h post-exercise. We provide novel data by demonstrating that soccer-specific training is associated with increases in PGC-1α mRNA. These data may have implications for practitioners in better understanding the specific ‘muscle’ responses to soccer-specific training protocols in the field