Hormones and muscle atrophy

Abstract

The endocrine system is an essential regulator of muscle metabolism in both health and disease. Hormones such as growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and androgens are the main regulators of muscle metabolism in both health and disease; have profound influences on muscle, acting as anabolic factors; and are important regulators of muscle mass. On the contrary, glucocorticoids have direct catabolic effects and induce muscle protein loss. Muscle wasting is a systemic response to fasting and several diseases like cancer, sepsis, renal and cardiac failure and trauma. Muscle atrophy also occurs in specific muscles with denervation, immobilization or inactivity. All of these conditions are characterized by significant changes in the endocrine environment. The aim of this review was to describe the role of endocrine system on the development of muscle atrophy. Understanding hormonal regulation of the skeletal muscle in these conditions might facilitate the development of hormone-mediated therapies for muscle atrophy.