Applied Physiology Lab Research

Primary Focus

The research direction at the Applied Physiology Laboratory is primarily focused on skeletal muscle physiology. Conditions such as aging and many diseases elicit significant muscle loss. Thus, it is our goal to investigate the underlying mechanisms and etiology of muscle atrophy and hypertrophy with the long-term intent of developing a successful countermeasure strategy to muscle wasting.

Current Projects

Currently, the Applied Physiology laboratory is conducting several different research studies:

1. The examination of apoptosis and the ubiquitin proteosome pathway on aging skeletal muscle.
2. The examination of ACE genotype in obese and non-obese humans.
3. The effectiveness of forskolin on body composition in college-aged males.
4. Effects of exercise and amino acid supplementation on markers of muscle growth.

Selected Publications & Presentations

Creer, A., P. Gallagher, D. Slivka, B. Jemiolo, W. Fink, S. Trappe. Influence of pre-exercise muscle glycogen levels on mitogenic responses to resistance exercise. J Appl Physiol , 99: 950–956, 2005.

Gallagher, P., M. Harber, A. Creer, S. Mazzetti, T. Trappe, B. Alkner, P. Tesch, S. Trappe. Effects of a resistance-training countermeasure to prolonged bedrest on single fiber myosin heavy chain distribution. Acta Physiol Scand , 185:61-69, 2005.

Godard, M. and P. Gallagher. Potential mechanisms for skeletal muscle wasting. American College of Sports Medicin, Central State Regional Meeting. Kansas City , Missouri (October 2004).

Trappe, S, T. Trappe, P. Gallagher, M. Harber, B. Alkner, P. Tesch. Human single muscle fibre function with 84 day bed-rest and resistance exercise. J Physiol (Lond ), 557:501-513, 2004.

Trappe, S., P. Gallagher, M. Harber, J. Carrithers, and T. Trappe. Aging Human Skeletal Muscle: Single Muscle Fiber Contractile Properties. J Physiol (Lond ), 552: 47-58, 2003.

Godard, M.P., P.M. Gallagher, U. Raue, and S.W. Trappe. Alterations in single muscle fiber calcium sensitivity with resistance training in older women. Pflugers Archive - European Journal of Physiology, 444: 419-425, 2002 .