Abstract
Background: multiple factors can affect athletic performance including nutrition, environmental, physiological, physical fitness, and genetic factors. Hormonal factors such as testosterone, and myostatin (MSTN) or GDF8 can be named to show significant effect on muscle growth and recovery after intensive training. Illustrating the combined relationship between the latest factors may help in developing efficient program for athletic care and exceled performance. Methods: participation in this work came from 67 male divided into two groups of 35 endurance and sprinters and 32 power athletes, with 36 females fall into two groups of 20 sprinters and 16 power athletes. Testosterone and MSTN levels were measured in both genders before, and after intensive training program followed by third measurement after 5 hours rest and recovery. The MSTN gene was analyzed for the presence of genetic polymorphism using specific PCR amplification. Results: data obtained showed the presence of negative relationship between testosterone and MSTN, whereas genetic analysis showed presence of three genotypes with different frequencies each one of them affected MSTN with different rate ranging from normal production levels with normal function to lack of function found in power athletes showing speedup muscle recovery and higher muscle mass. Conclusions: higher levels of testosterone reduced MSTN levels significantly showing negative correlation between them. Low expression or production of nonfunctional MSTN protein enhanced muscle recovery, higher muscle mass, and improved athletic performance.
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