Motor performance and muscle mass as a function of the hormonal responses to exercise

Hormones, motoneurons, and skeletal muscle fibers represent the main actors in regulating the motor performance during acute physical exercise. Moreover, muscle growth in response to exercise conditioning is related to direct actions of hormones and autocrine/paracrine factors on skeletal muscle fibers. Aim of the present chapter is to illustrate the main interactions taking place between the neuro-endocrine and neuro-muscular systems in response to acute exercise and to review the main hormonal mechanisms which underlie the structural growth and remodelling of skeletal muscle fibers in response to chronic exercise training.