Acute exercise does not cause sustained elevations in AMPK signaling or expression

Enhancement of anaerobic glycolysis - a role of PGC-1α4 in resistance exercise

Resistance exercise training (RET) is an effective countermeasure to sarcopenia, related frailty and metabolic disorders. Here, we show that an RET-induced increase in PGC-1α4 (an isoform of the transcriptional co-activator PGC-1α) expression not only promotes muscle hypertrophy but also enhances glycolysis, providing a rapid supply of ATP for muscle contractions. In human skeletal muscle, PGC-1α4 binds to the nuclear receptor PPARβ following RET, resulting in downstream effects on the expressions of key glycolytic genes. In myotubes, we show that PGC-1α4 overexpression increases anaerobic glycolysis in a PPARβ-dependent manner and promotes muscle glucose uptake and fat oxidation. In contrast, we found that an acute resistance exercise bout activates glycolysis in an AMPK-dependent manner. These results provide a mechanistic link between RET and improved glucose metabolism, offering an important therapeutic target to counteract aging and inactivity-induced metabolic diseases benefitting those who cannot exercise due to many reasons.

Factors Influencing AMPK Activation During Cycling Exercise: A Pooled Analysis and Meta-Regression

BACKGROUND

The 5' adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a cellular energy sensor that is activated by increases in the cellular AMP/adenosine diphosphate:adenosine triphosphate (ADP:ATP) ratios and plays a key role in metabolic adaptations to endurance training. The degree of AMPK activation during exercise can be influenced by many factors that impact on cellular energetics, including exercise intensity, exercise duration, muscle glycogen, fitness level, and nutrient availability. However, the relative importance of these factors for inducing AMPK activation remains unclear, and robust relationships between exercise-related variables and indices of AMPK activation have not been established.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this analysis was to (1) investigate correlations between factors influencing AMPK activation and the magnitude of change in AMPK activity during cycling exercise, (2) investigate correlations between commonly reported measures of AMPK activation (AMPK-α2 activity, phosphorylated (p)-AMPK, and p-acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (p-ACC), and (3) formulate linear regression models to determine the most important factors for AMPK activation during exercise.

METHODS

Data were pooled from 89 studies, including 982 participants (93.8% male, maximal oxygen consumption [[Formula: see text]] 51.9 ± 7.8 mL kg^-1 min^-1). Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to determine relationships between effect sizes for each of the primary outcome markers (AMPK-α2 activity, p-AMPK, p-ACC) and factors purported to influence AMPK signaling (muscle glycogen, carbohydrate ingestion, exercise duration and intensity, fitness level, and muscle metabolites). General linear mixed-effect models were used to examine which factors influenced AMPK activation.

RESULTS

Significant correlations (r = 0.19-0.55, p < .05) with AMPK activity were found between end-exercise muscle glycogen, exercise intensity, and muscle metabolites phosphocreatine, creatine, and free ADP. All markers of AMPK activation were significantly correlated, with the strongest relationship between AMPK-α2 activity and p-AMPK (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). The most important predictors of AMPK activation were the muscle metabolites and exercise intensity.

CONCLUSION

Muscle glycogen, fitness level, exercise intensity, and exercise duration each influence AMPK activity during exercise when all other factors are held constant. However, disrupting cellular energy charge is the most influential factor for AMPK activation during endurance exercise.

Adaptations to Endurance and Strength Training

The capacity for human exercise performance can be enhanced with prolonged exercise training, whether it is endurance- or strength-based. The ability to adapt through exercise training allows individuals to perform at the height of their sporting event and/or maintain peak physical condition throughout the life span. Our continued drive to understand how to prescribe exercise to maximize health and/or performance outcomes means that our knowledge of the adaptations that occur as a result of exercise continues to evolve. This review will focus on current and new insights into endurance and strength-training adaptations and will highlight important questions that remain as far as how we adapt to training.

AMPK in skeletal muscle function and metabolism

Skeletal muscle possesses a remarkable ability to adapt to various physiologic conditions. AMPK is a sensor of intracellular energy status that maintains energy stores by fine-tuning anabolic and catabolic pathways. AMPK’s role as an energy sensor is particularly critical in tissues displaying highly changeable energy turnover. Due to the drastic changes in energy demand that occur between the resting and exercising state, skeletal muscle is one such tissue. Here, we review the complex regulation of AMPK in skeletal muscle and its consequences on metabolism (e.g., substrate uptake, oxidation, and storage as well as mitochondrial function of skeletal muscle fibers). We focus on the role of AMPK in skeletal muscle during exercise and in exercise recovery. We also address adaptations to exercise training, including skeletal muscle plasticity, highlighting novel concepts and future perspectives that need to be investigated. Furthermore, we discuss the possible role of AMPK as a therapeutic target as well as different AMPK activators and their potential for future drug development.—Kjøbsted, R., Hingst, J. R., Fentz, J., Foretz, M., Sanz, M.-N., Pehmøller, C., Shum, M., Marette, A., Mounier, R., Treebak, J. T., Wojtaszewski, J. F. P., Viollet, B., Lantier, L. AMPK in skeletal muscle function and metabolism.

Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy with Concurrent Exercise Training: Contrary Evidence for an Interference Effect

Over the last 30+ years, it has become axiomatic that performing aerobic exercise within the same training program as resistance exercise (termed concurrent exercise training) interferes with the hypertrophic adaptations associated with resistance exercise training. However, a close examination of the literature reveals that the interference effect of concurrent exercise training on muscle growth in humans is not as compelling as previously thought. Moreover, recent studies show that, under certain conditions, concurrent exercise may augment resistance exercise-induced hypertrophy in healthy human skeletal muscle. The purpose of this article is to outline the contrary evidence for an acute and chronic interference effect of concurrent exercise on skeletal muscle growth in humans and provide practical literature-based recommendations for maximizing hypertrophy when training concurrently.

Role of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase for Regulating Post-exercise Insulin Sensitivity

Skeletal muscle insulin resistance precedes development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). As skeletal muscle is a major sink for glucose disposal, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in maintaining insulin sensitivity of this tissue could potentially benefit millions of people that are diagnosed with insulin resistance. Regular physical activity in both healthy and insulin-resistant individuals is recognized as the single most effective intervention to increase whole-body insulin sensitivity and thereby positively affect glucose homeostasis. A single bout of exercise has long been known to increase glucose disposal in skeletal muscle in response to physiological insulin concentrations. While this effect is identified to be restricted to the previously exercised muscle, the molecular basis for an apparent convergence between exercise- and insulin-induced signaling pathways is incompletely known. In recent years, we and others have identified the Rab GTPase-activating protein, TBC1 domain family member 4 (TBC1D4) as a target of key protein kinases in the insulin- and exercise-activated signaling pathways. Our working hypothesis is that the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is important for the ability of exercise to insulin sensitize skeletal muscle through TBC1D4. Here, we aim to provide an overview of the current available evidence linking AMPK to post-exercise insulin sensitivity.

Intact Regulation of the AMPK Signaling Network in Response to Exercise and Insulin in Skeletal Muscle of Male Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Illumination of AMPK Activation in Recovery From Exercise

Current evidence on exercise-mediated AMPK regulation in skeletal muscle of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is inconclusive. This may relate to inadequate segregation of trimeric complexes in the investigation of AMPK activity. We examined the regulation of AMPK and downstream targets ACC-β, TBC1D1, and TBC1D4 in muscle biopsy specimens obtained from 13 overweight/obese patients with T2D and 14 weight-matched male control subjects before, immediately after, and 3 h after exercise. Exercise increased AMPK α2β2γ3 activity and phosphorylation of ACCβ Ser(221), TBC1D1 Ser(237)/Thr(596), and TBC1D4 Ser(704) Conversely, exercise decreased AMPK α1β2γ1 activity and TBC1D4 Ser(318)/Thr(642) phosphorylation. Interestingly, compared with preexercise, 3 h into exercise recovery, AMPK α2β2γ1 and α1β2γ1 activity were increased concomitant with increased TBC1D4 Ser(318)/Ser(341)/Ser(704) phosphorylation. No differences in these responses were observed between patients with T2D and control subjects. Subjects were also studied by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps performed at rest and 3 h after exercise. We found no evidence for insulin to regulate AMPK activity. Thus, AMPK signaling is not compromised in muscle of patients with T2D during exercise and insulin stimulation. Our results reveal a hitherto unrecognized activation of specific AMPK complexes in exercise recovery. We hypothesize that the differential regulation of AMPK complexes plays an important role for muscle metabolism and adaptations to exercise.

Altered signaling for mitochondrial and myofibrillar biogenesis in skeletal muscles of patients with multiple sclerosis

Patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) experience muscle weakness and lowered muscle oxidative capacity. To explore the etiology for the development of such muscle phenotype we studied skeletal muscle adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase phosphorylation (phospho-AMPKα, governing mitochondrial biogenesis) and mammalian target of rapamycin phosphorylation (phospho-mTOR, governing myofibrillar biogenesis) in pwMS. After assessment of body composition, muscle strength, exercise tolerance, and muscle fiber type, muscle phospho-AMPKα and phospho-mTOR were assessed in 14 pwMS and 10 healthy controls (part 1). Next, an endurance exercise bout was executed by 9 pwMS and 7 healthy subjects, with assessment of changes in muscle phospho-AMPKα and phospho-mTOR (part 2). Increased basal muscle phospho-AMPKα and phospho-mTOR were present in MS (P < 0.01) and independently related to MS. Correlations between muscle phospho-AMPKα or phospho-mTOR and whole-body fat mass, peak oxygen uptake, and expanded disability status scale (P < 0.05) were found. After endurance exercise muscle phospho-AMPKα and phospho-mTOR remained increased in pwMS (P < 0.01). Muscle signaling cascades for mitochondrial and myofibrillar biogenesis are altered in MS and related to the impairment and disability level. These findings indicate a link between muscle signaling cascades and the level of disability and impairment, and thus may open a new area for the development of novel therapies for peripheral muscle impairment in MS.

Molecular and metabolomic effects of voluntary running wheel activity on skeletal muscle in late middle-aged rats

We examined the molecular and metabolomic effects of voluntary running wheel activity in late middle-aged male Sprague Dawley rats (16–17 months). Rats were assigned either continuous voluntary running wheel access for 8 weeks (RW+) or cage-matched without running wheel access (RW−). The 9 RW+ rats averaged 83 m/day (range: 8–163 m), yet exhibited both 84% reduced individual body weight gain (4.3 g vs. 26.3 g, P = 0.02) and 6.5% reduced individual average daily food intake (20.6 g vs. 22.0 g, P = 0.09) over the 8 weeks. Hindlimb muscles were harvested following an overnight fast. Muscle weights and myofiber cross-sectional area showed no difference between groups. Western blots of gastrocnemius muscle lysates with a panel of antibodies suggest that running wheel activity improved oxidative metabolism (53% increase in PGC1α, P = 0.03), increased autophagy (36% increase in LC3B-II/-I ratio, P = 0.03), and modulated growth signaling (26% increase in myostatin, P = 0.04). RW+ muscle also showed 43% increased glycogen phosphorylase expression (P = 0.04) and 45% increased glycogen content (P = 0.04). Metabolomic profiling of plantaris and soleus muscles indicated that even low-volume voluntary running wheel activity is associated with decreases in many long-chain fatty acids (e.g., palmitoleate, myristoleate, and eicosatrienoate) relative to RW− rats. Relative increases in acylcarnitines and acyl glycerophospholipids were also observed in RW+ plantaris. These data establish that even modest amounts of physical activity during late middle-age promote extensive metabolic remodeling of skeletal muscle.

Interference between concurrent resistance and endurance exercise: molecular bases and the role of individual training variables

Concurrent training is defined as simultaneously incorporating both resistance and endurance exercise within a periodized training regime. Despite the potential additive benefits of combining these divergent exercise modes with regards to disease prevention and athletic performance, current evidence suggests that this approach may attenuate gains in muscle mass, strength, and power compared with undertaking resistance training alone. This has been variously described as the interference effect or concurrent training effect. In recent years, understanding of the molecular mechanisms mediating training adaptation in skeletal muscle has emerged and provided potential mechanistic insight into the concurrent training effect. Although it appears that various molecular signaling responses induced in skeletal muscle by endurance exercise can inhibit pathways regulating protein synthesis and stimulate protein breakdown, human studies to date have not observed such molecular 'interference' following acute concurrent exercise that might explain compromised muscle hypertrophy following concurrent training. However, given the multitude of potential concurrent training variables and the limitations of existing evidence, the potential roles of individual training variables in acute and chronic interference are not fully elucidated. The present review explores current evidence for the molecular basis of the specificity of training adaptation and the concurrent interference phenomenon. Additionally, insights provided by molecular and performance-based concurrent training studies regarding the role of individual training variables (i.e., within-session exercise order, between-mode recovery, endurance training volume, intensity, and modality) in the concurrent interference effect are discussed, along with the limitations of our current understanding of this complex paradigm.

Suppression of the GLUT4 adaptive response to exercise in fructose-fed rats

Exercise-induced increase in skeletal muscle GLUT4 expression is associated with hyperacetylation of histone H3 within a 350-bp DNA region surrounding the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) element on the Glut4 promoter and increased binding of MEF2A. Previous studies have hypothesized that the increase in MEF2A binding is a result of improved accessibility of this DNA segment. Here, we investigated the impact of fructose consumption on exercise-induced GLUT4 adaptive response and directly measured the accessibility of the above segment to nucleases. Male Wistar rats (n = 30) were fed standard chow or chow + 10% fructose or maltodextrin drinks ad libitum for 13 days. In the last 6 days five animals per group performed 3 × 17-min bouts of intermittent swimming daily and five remained untrained. Triceps muscles were harvested and used to measure 1) GLUT4, pAMPK, and HDAC5 contents by Western blot, 2) accessibility of the DNA segment from intact nuclei using nuclease accessibility assays, 3) acetylation level of histone H3 and bound MEF2A by ChIP assays, and 4) glycogen content. Swim training increased GLUT4 content by ∼66% (P < 0.05) but fructose and maltodextrin feeding suppressed the adaptation. Accessibility of the DNA region to MNase and DNase I was significantly increased by swimming (∼2.75- and 5.75-fold, respectively) but was also suppressed in trained rats that consumed fructose or maltodextrin. Histone H3 acetylation and MEF2A binding paralleled the accessibility pattern. These findings indicate that both fructose and maltodextrin modulate the GLUT4 adaptive response to exercise by mechanisms involving chromatin remodeling at the Glut4 promoter.

How to explain exercise-induced phenotype from molecular data: rethink and reconstruction based on AMPK and mTOR signaling

During endurance and resistance exercise training, AMPK and mTOR signaling were known as selective pathways implicating the differentiation of exercise-induced phenotype in skeletal muscle. Among the previous studies, however, the differences in exercise protocol, the individuality and the genetic heterogeneity within species make it difficult to reach a consistent conclusion in the roles of AMPK and mTOR signaling. In this review, we aim not to reanalyze the previous articles and present the research progress of AMPK and mTOR signaling in exercise, but to propose an abstract general hypothesis for exercise-induced phenotype. Generally, exercise- induced skeletal muscle phenotype is independent of one and a few genes, proteins and signaling pathways. Convergent adaptation will better summarize the specificity of skeletal muscle phenotype in response to a single mode of exercise. Backward adaptation will open a new concept to illustrate the process of exercise-induced adaptation, such as mitochondrial quality control and muscle mass homeostasis.

Acute exercise reverses starvation-mediated insulin resistance in humans

Within 2-3 days of starvation, pronounced insulin resistance develops, possibly mediated by increased lipid load. Here, we show that one exercise bout increases mitochondrial fatty acid (FA) oxidation and reverses starvation-induced insulin resistance. Nine healthy subjects underwent 75-h starvation on two occasions: with no exercise (NE) or with one exercise session at the end of the starvation period (EX). Muscle biopsies were analyzed for mitochondrial function, contents of glycogen, and phosphorylation of regulatory proteins. Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, measured with an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), were impaired after starvation, but in EX the response was attenuated or abolished. Glycogen stores were reduced, and plasma FA was increased in both conditions, with a more pronounced effect in EX. After starvation, mitochondrial respiration decreased with complex I substrate (NE and EX), but in EX there was an increased respiration with complex I + II substrate. EX altered regulatory proteins associated with increases in glucose disposal (decreased phosphorylation of glycogen synthase), glucose transport (increased phosphorylation of Akt substrate of 160 kDa), and FA oxidation (increased phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase). In conclusion, exercise reversed starvation-induced insulin resistance and was accompanied by reduced glycogen stores, increased lipid oxidation capacity, and activation of signaling proteins involved in glucose transport and FA metabolism.

Effects of acute exercise and chronic exercise on the liver leptin-AMPK-ACC signaling pathway in rats with type 2 diabetes

AIM

To investigate the effects of acute and chronic exercise on glucose and lipid metabolism in liver of rats with type 2 diabetes caused by a high fat diet and low dose streptozotocin (STZ).

METHODS

Animals were classified into control (CON), diabetes (DC), diabetic chronic exercise (DCE), and diabetic acute exercise (DAE) groups.

RESULTS

Compared to CON, the leptin levels in serum and liver and ACC phosphorylation were significantly higher in DC, but the levels of liver leptin receptor, AMPK α 1/2, AMPK α 1, and ACC proteins expression and phosphorylation were significantly lower in DC. In addition, the levels of liver glycogen reduced significantly, and the levels of TG and FFA increased significantly in DC compared to CON. Compared to DC, the levels of liver AMPK α 1/2, AMPK α 2, AMPK α 1, and ACC phosphorylation significantly increased in DCE and DAE. However, significant increase of the level of liver leptin receptor and glycogen as well as significant decrease of the level of TG and FFA were observed only in DEC.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that both acute and chronic exercise indirectly activated the leptin-AMPK-ACC signaling pathway and increased insulin sensitivity in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats. However, only chronic and long-term exercise improved glucose and lipid metabolism of the liver.

Exercise increases skeletal muscle GLUT4 gene expression in patients with type 2 diabetes

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a single bout of exercise on GLUT4 gene expression in muscle of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and control subjects, matched for age and body mass index. Nine patients with T2D and nine control subjects performed 60 min of cycling exercise at ~55% peak power (W(max) ). Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained at baseline, immediately post and 3-h post exercise. GLUT4 mRNA expression increased (p < 0.05) to a similar extent immediately post exercise in control (~60%) and T2D (~66%) subjects, and remained elevated (p < 0.05) 3-h post exercise with no differences between groups. Similarly, p-AMP-activated protein kinase, p38 mitogen-activated kinase and proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-alpha mRNA expression were increased (p < 0.05) post exercise, and were not different between the groups. In conclusion, a single bout of exercise increased skeletal muscle GLUT4 mRNA expression in patients with T2D to a similar extent as in control subjects.

A practical model of low-volume high-intensity interval training induces mitochondrial biogenesis in human skeletal muscle: potential mechanisms

High-intensity interval training (HIT) induces skeletal muscle metabolic and performance adaptations that resemble traditional endurance training despite a low total exercise volume. Most HIT studies have employed 'all out', variable-load exercise interventions (e.g. repeated Wingate tests) that may not be safe, practical and/or well tolerated by certain individuals. Our purpose was to determine the performance, metabolic and molecular adaptations to a more practical model of low-volume HIT. Seven men (21 + or - 0.4 years, V(O2peak) = 46 + or - 2 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) performed six training sessions over 2 weeks. Each session consisted of 8-12 x 60 s intervals at approximately 100% of peak power output elicited during a ramp V(O2) peak test (355 + or - 10 W) separated by 75 s of recovery. Training increased exercise capacity, as assessed by significant improvements on both 50 kJ and 750 kJ cycling time trials (P < 0.05 for both). Skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) biopsy samples obtained before and after training revealed increased maximal activity of citrate synthase (CS) and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) as well as total protein content of CS, COX subunits II and IV, and the mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) (P < 0.05 for all). Nuclear abundance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) was approximately 25% higher after training (P < 0.05), but total PGC-1alpha protein content remained unchanged. Total SIRT1 content, a proposed activator of PGC-1alpha and mitochondrial biogenesis, was increased by approximately 56% following training (P < 0.05). Training also increased resting muscle glycogen and total GLUT4 protein content (both P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that a practical model of low volume HIT is a potent stimulus for increasing skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity and improving exercise performance. The results also suggest that increases in SIRT1, nuclear PGC-1alpha, and Tfam may be involved in coordinating mitochondrial adaptations in response to HIT in human skeletal muscle.

Eccentric exercise induces nitric oxide synthase expression through nuclear factor-κB modulation in rat skeletal muscle

This study aimed to investigate the effect of eccentric exercise on the expression of the different nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in rat deep vastus lateralis muscle. Twenty-four rats were allocated to four experimental groups: rested control group, acutely exercised group after an intermittent downhill protocol for 90 min, acutely exercised group treated with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (100 mg/kg ip) for 24 and 1 h before the acute exercise bout, and acutely exercised group with a previous submaximal eccentric training of 8 wk. Acutely exercised rats showed increased levels of protein tyrosine nitration, NF-κB binding, and phospho-IκBα content. A significant increase was observed in mRNA level and protein content of neuronal NOS, inducible NOS, and endothelial NOS. The binding of NF-κB to the NOS isoform promoters, measured by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, was undetectable in rested rats, whereas it was evident in acutely exercised animals. All of these effects were partially abolished by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate treatment and by training. In summary, our findings provide a direct link between the NF-κB signaling cascade and NOS expression in skeletal muscle following eccentric exercise and suggest a modulation of the expression of the three NOS isoforms by this transcription factor.

A practical model of low-volume high-intensity interval training induces mitochondrial biogenesis in human skeletal muscle: potential mechanisms

High-intensity interval training (HIT) induces skeletal muscle metabolic and performance adaptations that resemble traditional endurance training despite a low total exercise volume. Most HIT studies have employed 'all out', variable-load exercise interventions (e.g. repeated Wingate tests) that may not be safe, practical and/or well tolerated by certain individuals. Our purpose was to determine the performance, metabolic and molecular adaptations to a more practical model of low-volume HIT. Seven men (21 + or - 0.4 years, V(O2peak) = 46 + or - 2 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) performed six training sessions over 2 weeks. Each session consisted of 8-12 x 60 s intervals at approximately 100% of peak power output elicited during a ramp V(O2) peak test (355 + or - 10 W) separated by 75 s of recovery. Training increased exercise capacity, as assessed by significant improvements on both 50 kJ and 750 kJ cycling time trials (P < 0.05 for both). Skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) biopsy samples obtained before and after training revealed increased maximal activity of citrate synthase (CS) and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) as well as total protein content of CS, COX subunits II and IV, and the mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) (P < 0.05 for all). Nuclear abundance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) was approximately 25% higher after training (P < 0.05), but total PGC-1alpha protein content remained unchanged. Total SIRT1 content, a proposed activator of PGC-1alpha and mitochondrial biogenesis, was increased by approximately 56% following training (P < 0.05). Training also increased resting muscle glycogen and total GLUT4 protein content (both P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that a practical model of low volume HIT is a potent stimulus for increasing skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity and improving exercise performance. The results also suggest that increases in SIRT1, nuclear PGC-1alpha, and Tfam may be involved in coordinating mitochondrial adaptations in response to HIT in human skeletal muscle.

Important role for AMPKalpha1 in limiting skeletal muscle cell hypertrophy

Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibits protein synthesis through the suppression of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a critical regulator of muscle growth. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the role of the AMPKalpha1 catalytic subunit on muscle cell size control and adaptation to muscle hypertrophy. We found that AMPKalpha1(-/-) primary cultured myotubes and myofibers exhibit larger cell size compared with control cells in response to chronic Akt activation. We next subjected the plantaris muscle of AMPKalpha1(-/-) and control mice to mechanical overloading to induce muscle hypertrophy. We observed significant elevations of AMPKalpha1 activity in the control muscle at days 7 and 21 after the overload. Overloading-induced muscle hypertrophy was significantly accelerated in AMPKalpha1(-/-) mice than in control mice [+32 vs. +53% at day 7 and +57 vs. +76% at day 21 in control vs. AMPKalpha1(-/-) mice, respectively]. This enhanced growth of AMPKalpha1-deficient muscle was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of mTOR signaling downstream targets and decreased phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2. These results demonstrate that AMPKalpha1 plays an important role in limiting skeletal muscle overgrowth during hypertrophy through inhibition of the mTOR-signaling pathway.