Robert S. Hikida, Ph.D.

     Our laboratory is investigating a number of different aspects of skeletal muscles.  In collaboration with Drs. Hagerman and Staron, we are studying the effects of training on skeletal muscle adaptation, including histochemical, biochemical, immunohisto-chemical and ultrastructural changes after different types of training in young and old men and women.   In addition, we are investigating the concept of nuclear domains and how these domains change with different muscular activities.   In particular, muscles of rats that have been in space become significantly atrophied.  We are comparing these atrophied muscles to ground-based controls in terms of how much area is controlled by each myonucleus when muscle fiber size changes.

     Correspondingly, when a muscle hypertrophies due to stren gth training, does the number of nuclei increase to accommodate the increased area of muscle fiber?  These are some of the questions we are investigating.  Finally, in collaboration with the Edison Biotechnology Institute, our lab has studied the effects of bovine growth hormone analogs incorporated into the genome of mice.  The different analogs appear to be acting in different stages of development, resulting in muscles with either different numbers of fibers or larger fibers that produce animals of different sizes.

Selected References:

• Hagerman, F.C., S. J. Walsh, R.S. Staron, R.S.Hikida, K. Toma and K.E. Ragg. 2000. Effects of high intensity resistance training on untrained older men. I. Strength, cardiovascular and metabolic responses. J. Gerontol. Biol. Sci. 55A:B336-B346.

• Hikida, R.S., R. S. Staron, F. C. Hagerman, S. Walsh, E. Kaiser, S. Shell, and S. Hervey. 2000. Effects of high intensity resistance training on untrained older men. II. Muscle fiber characteristics and nucleo-cytoplasmic relationships. J. Gerontol. Biol. Sci. 55A:B347-B354

• Staron, R.S., T. F. Murray, R.E. Gilders, F.C. Hagerman, R. S. Hikida, and K.E. Ragg. 2000. Influence of resistance training on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in young men and women. J. Strength Condit. Res. 14: 37-44.

• Staron, R.S., F.C. Hagerman, R.S. Hikida, T.F. Murray, D.P. Hostler, M.T. Crill, K.E. Ragg and K. Toma. 2000. Fiber type composition of the vastus lateralis muscle of young men and women. J. Histochemistry & Cytochemistry 48: 623-629.

• Staron, R.S. and R.S. Hikida. 2000. Muscular responses to exercise and training. In Exercise: Basic and Applied Science, pp. 163-176 (ed. W.E. Garrett Jr and D. Kirkendall. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Philadelphia

• Staron, R. S., W. J. Kraemer, R.S. Hikida, A. C. Fry, J.D. Murray, G. E. R. Campos. 1999. Fiber type composition in four hindlimb muscles of the rat. Histol. Cell Biol. 111: 117-123.

• Hikida, R.S., S. Walsh, N. Barylski, G. Campos, F.C. Hagerman and R.S. Staron. 1998. Is hypertrophy limited in elderly muscle fibers? A comparison of elderly and young strength-trained men. Basic Appl. Myol. 8 (6): 419-428.