Role of resistance training with the approach of blood flow restriction in skeletal muscle cell growth

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the response of ERK1/2 protein and muscular morphological adaptations to a period of resistance training with local blood flow restriction. Materials and methods: Twenty healthy male Wistar rats without clinically evident disease (5 weeks old, 120±7 g weight) were divided into four equal groups: control, control with limited blood flow, resistance training and, resistance training with limited blood flow. The resistance group practiced squats for eight weeks with a frequency of three sessions per week. Blood flow restriction was performed using a cuff with a width of 16 mm and a length of 90 mm. For Immunohistochemical test of ERK1/2 and histological studies, the left quadriceps muscle of the left leg was removed. Data analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance at a level of α≤0.05. Results: In the resistance training group, the ERK1/2 expression in the quadriceps muscle increased, while decreased in the groups with limited blood flow  (p<0.05). In both groups of the resistance training (with and without blood flow restriction), quadriceps muscle diameter increased (p<0.05). Also, the number of muscle fibers increased significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion: resistance training seems to induce ERK1/2, which is consistent with increased skeletal muscle growth. Resistance exercises with limited blood flow may result in more muscle hypertrophy. However, such effects of the interaction between resistance training and blood flow restriction on the expression of ERK1/2 was not observed.