Human skeletal muscle HSP70 response to training in highly trained rowers

Previous studies have demonstrated exercise-induced heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate human skeletal muscle HSP70 response to rowing training. Ten male rowers trained for 4 wk with different forms, durations, and intensities of exercise. Biopsy was performed in the right musculus vastus lateralis before training and at the end of each week. HSP70 in 5 mu g of total protein from the muscle sample was determined by using Western blot and immunodetection with chemiluminescence technique, by means of laser densitometer referring to a series of known standard HSP70. Compared with pretraining (100%), HSP70 increased during training (181, 405, 456, and 363% from the first to fourth training week, respectively) with the maximum HSP70 production at the end of second training week. Thus HSP70 is induced in highly trained human muscle by long-term training.