A comparison of PGC-1α mRNA and protein expression in response to 1-week endurance training on alternate days or 4 consecutive days

To understand the molecular mechanisms of adaptation to different training protocols, this study compared the effects of 4 sessions of 90 min treadmill exercise on alternate days or consecutive days in 1 week on messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α in rat gastrocnemius muscle. The mRNA significantly increased by 25.8-fold after alternate-day and 10.1-fold after consecutive-day training, while the protein showed no significant cumulative effect, 1.5–1.7-fold above baseline, in the 2 protocols.