Engman Viktor, Critchlow Annabel J, Laakkonen Eija K, Hansen Mette, Mason Shaun, Lamon Séverine
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2025 May 19;110(6):e1732-e1746. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf174.
Serum concentrations of androgens and estrogens, the main male and female sex hormones, respectively, naturally fluctuate across the lifespan. Sex hormones are mainly produced in the gonads, but evidence suggests that they can also be locally synthesized in skeletal muscle. However, little is known about the purpose of intramuscular sex hormones and their role in skeletal muscle. This systematic review aimed to investigate (1) how intramuscular sex hormone concentrations vary across the lifespan, (2) whether exercise affects intramuscular sex hormone concentrations, and (3) whether intramuscular sex hormones are associated with skeletal muscle mass and function.
Four databases were searched, and studies were included if they contained measurements of intramuscular sex hormones from rodents or healthy males and females free from any hormonal treatment.
Thirteen studies were included. Intramuscular testosterone was reduced in older males compared to their younger counterparts, but comparison of intramuscular sex hormone concentrations between pre- and postmenopausal females yielded inconclusive findings. Chronic exercise decreased androgens and estradiol in females but increased androgens in males. Acute exercise did not change intramuscular hormone concentrations in humans but increased them in rodents. Intramuscular androgens were positively associated with muscle mass and strength in males. In females, conflicting findings were reported for both estradiol and androgens and measures of muscle mass and function.
Current evidence suggests that aging and exercise differentially modulate intramuscular sex hormone concentrations, and their association with muscle mass and function, between males and females and model systems.
雄激素和雌激素分别是主要的男性和女性性激素，其血清浓度在整个生命周期中自然波动。性激素主要在性腺中产生，但有证据表明它们也可以在骨骼肌中局部合成。然而，关于肌肉内性激素的目的及其在骨骼肌中的作用知之甚少。本系统综述旨在研究：（1）肌肉内性激素浓度在整个生命周期中如何变化；（2）运动是否会影响肌肉内性激素浓度；（3）肌肉内性激素是否与骨骼肌质量和功能相关。
检索了四个数据库，纳入的研究需包含对啮齿动物或未接受任何激素治疗的健康男性和女性肌肉内性激素的测量。
纳入了13项研究。与年轻男性相比，老年男性的肌肉内睾酮水平降低，但绝经前和绝经后女性之间肌肉内性激素浓度的比较结果尚无定论。长期运动可降低女性的雄激素和雌二醇水平，但可增加男性的雄激素水平。急性运动不会改变人类肌肉内激素浓度，但会增加啮齿动物的肌肉内激素浓度。肌肉内雄激素与男性的肌肉质量和力量呈正相关。在女性中，关于雌二醇和雄激素以及肌肉质量和功能测量的研究结果相互矛盾。
目前的证据表明，衰老和运动对男性、女性及模型系统中肌肉内性激素浓度及其与肌肉质量和功能的关联有不同的调节作用。
