The study is a 5-week human study including 24 18-35 year old healthy men. Each participant will have muscle injury and tendon strain induced in one leg using neuromuscular electrical stimulation in conjunction with forced lengthening contractions. The investigators will monitor the recovery from injury/strain over a 4 week period, in which half of the subjects will receive growth hormone (somatropin) to stimulate the connective tissue synthesis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
25
One bout of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in conjunction with forced lengthening contractions on one leg
Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark
Effect of somatropin on muscle protein synthesis 14 days after injury
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in muscle proteins 14 days after injury with or without 14 days treatment with somatropin. Measured using deuterated water
Time frame: 14 days
Muscle protein synthesis 7 days after injury
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in muscle proteins 7 days after injury vs control (no injury) with or without 7 days treatment with somatropin. Measured using deuterated water
Time frame: 7 days
Muscle protein synthesis 14 days after injury
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in muscle proteins 14 days after injury compared to control leg (no injury). Measured using deuterated water.
Time frame: 14 days
Muscle protein breakdown 14 days after injury
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in muscle proteins 14 days after injury vs. control (no injury) with or without 14 days treatment with somatropin. Measured using stable isotop labelled alanine.
Time frame: 14 days
Muscle protein breakdown 7 days after injury
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in muscle proteins 7 days after injury vs. control (no injury) with or without 7 days treatment with somatropin. Measured using stable isotop labelled alanine.
Time frame: 7 days
Muscle protein breakdown 28 days after injury
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in muscle proteins 28 days after injury vs. control (no injury) with or without 14 days treatment with somatropin. Measured using stable isotop labelled alanine.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: 28 days
Histochemical staining of muscle cross sections 7 days after injury
Number of satellite cells, fibroblasts and immune cells in injured vs. control tissue (no injury), with and without growth hormone. Measured using histochemical staining of muscle cross sections
Time frame: 7 days
Histochemical staining of muscle cross sections 14 days after injury
Number of satellite cells, fibroblasts and immune cells in injured vs. control tissue (no injury), with and without growth hormone. Measured using histochemical staining of muscle cross sections
Time frame: 14 days
Histochemical staining of muscle cross sections 28 days after injury
Number of satellite cells, fibroblasts and immune cells in injured vs. control tissue (no injury), with and without growth hormone. Measured using histochemical staining of muscle cross sections
Time frame: 28 days
The effect of somatropin on tendon tissue synthesis
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in tendon proteins after 7 days placebo/treatment with somatropin. Measured using deuterated water
Time frame: 7 days
Tendon tissue synthesis 7 days after strain
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in tendon proteins 7 days after strain compared to control leg (no strain). Measured using deuterated water
Time frame: 7 days
Tendon tissue synthesis 7 days after strain with/without somatropin
The difference in fractional synthesis rate in tendon proteins 7 days after strain compared to control leg (no strain) with or without somatropin. Measured using deuterated water
Time frame: 7 days
Isometric muscle force output 7 days following injury
The difference in isometric muscle force output 7 days after injury vs. control (no injury) with or without 7 days treatment with somatropin.
Time frame: 7 days
Isometric muscle force output 14 days following injury
The difference in isometric muscle force output 14 days after injury vs. control (no injury) with or without 14 days treatment with somatropin.
Time frame: 14 days
Isometric muscle force output 28 days following injury
The difference in isometric muscle force output 28 days after injury vs. control (no injury) with or without 14 days treatment with somatropin.
Time frame: 28 days