University of Guilan Metabolism and Exercise 2322-2867 9 1 2019 08 23 The effect of aerobic exercise with and without blood flow restriction on lactate, cortisol and PGC-1α response in human skeletal muscle The effect of aerobic exercise with and without blood flow restriction on lactate, cortisol and PGC-1α response in human skeletal muscle 27 37 4354 10.22124/jme.2020.4354 FA B Mirzaei Professor in Exercise Physiology, University of Guilan A Barjaste PhD Student in Exercise Physiology, University of Guilan F Rahmani-nia Professor in Exercise Physiology, University of Guilan Journal Article 2018 10 06 <strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to examine the effect of aerobic exercise with and without BFR on blood lactate, cortisol and PGC-1α response in human skeletal muscle. <strong>Method:</strong> On two different occasions, five healthy untrained male subjects (mean±SE; age:  33.4±1.02 years, height: 173.9±4.02 cm, body mass: 79.64±4.69 kg), were required to perform (i) a BFR aerobic exercise at an exercise intensity of 40 % of VO₂max; and (ii) similar exercise bouts without BFR (Ctrl). For each condition, baseline and 3 h post-exercise muscle biopsy samples (<em>vastus lateralis</em>) were performed for PGC-1α protein expression analysis. Venous blood samples were also collected at pre-exercise, immediately and 2 h post-exercise to measure changes in blood lactate and serum cortisol. <strong>Results</strong>: PGC-1α protein content was significantly higher (<em>P</em> < 0.05) at 3-h post-exercise with BFR compared with Ctrl. Blood lactate and serum cortisol did not significantly change from baseline to immediately after exercise and at 2-h post exercise. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Metabolic stimuli are not a mechanism to mediate cell signaling network responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis. However, the addition of blood flow restriction during aerobic exercise induces an increase in PGC-1α to regulate mitochondrial biogenesis. <strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to examine the effect of aerobic exercise with and without BFR on blood lactate, cortisol and PGC-1α response in human skeletal muscle. <strong>Method:</strong> On two different occasions, five healthy untrained male subjects (mean±SE; age:  33.4±1.02 years, height: 173.9±4.02 cm, body mass: 79.64±4.69 kg), were required to perform (i) a BFR aerobic exercise at an exercise intensity of 40 % of VO₂max; and (ii) similar exercise bouts without BFR (Ctrl). For each condition, baseline and 3 h post-exercise muscle biopsy samples (<em>vastus lateralis</em>) were performed for PGC-1α protein expression analysis. Venous blood samples were also collected at pre-exercise, immediately and 2 h post-exercise to measure changes in blood lactate and serum cortisol. <strong>Results</strong>: PGC-1α protein content was significantly higher (<em>P</em> < 0.05) at 3-h post-exercise with BFR compared with Ctrl. Blood lactate and serum cortisol did not significantly change from baseline to immediately after exercise and at 2-h post exercise. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Metabolic stimuli are not a mechanism to mediate cell signaling network responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis. However, the addition of blood flow restriction during aerobic exercise induces an increase in PGC-1α to regulate mitochondrial biogenesis. https://jme.guilan.ac.ir/article_4354_963816e6501649a5d704abad56ff9b93.pdf