Effects of transdermal estrogen therapy on satellite cell number and molecular markers for muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in early postmenopausal women

Purpose To investigate the effects of resistance training with or without transdermal estrogen therapy (ET) on satellite cell (SC) number and molecular markers for muscle hypertrophy in early postmenopausal women. Methods Using a double-blinded randomized controlled design, we allocated healthy, untrained postmenopausal women to perform 12 weeks of resistance training with placebo (PLC, n = 16) or ET (n = 15). Muscle biopsies obtained before and after the intervention, and two hours after the last training session were analyzed for fiber type, SC number and molecular markers for muscle hypertrophy and degradation (real-time PCR, western blotting). Results The analysis of SCs per Type I fiber showed a time x treatment interaction caused by a 47% decrease in PLC, and a 26% increase after ET after the training period. Also, SCs per Type II fiber area was lower after the intervention driven by a 57% decrease in PLC. Most molecular markers changed similarly in the two groups. Conclusion A decline in SC per muscle fiber was observed after the 12-week training period in postmenopausal women, which was counteracted when combined with use of transdermal ET.