Prolonged exercise training improves the acute type II muscle fibre satellite cell response in healthy older men

Key points Skeletal muscle stem cells, termed satellite cells, play a crucial role in repair and remodelling of muscle in response to exercise An age‐related decline in satellite cell number and/or function has been hypothesized to be a key factor in the development of sarcopenia and/or the blunted muscle fibre adaptive response to prolonged exercise training in older persons We report that performing prolonged exercise training improves the acute type II muscle fibre satellite cell response following a single bout of resistance exercise in older men. The observed improvement in muscle satellite function is associated with an increase in muscle fibre capillarization following exercise training suggesting a possible functional link between capillarization and satellite cell function.