| Summary: | Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin are proteins implicated in the mechanisms that link chronic alterations in mechanical force within skeletal muscle and its microvasculature to the functional adaptation seen with changes in physical activity. This thesis developed novel immunofluorescence microscopy methods to visualise and measure FAK and paxillin responses in human skeletal muscle and its microvasculature. Chapter 2 reveals high FAK protein content in the (sub)sarcolemma of skeletal muscle fibres and within the microvascular endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell layers. Chapter 3 demonstrates that FAK protein content is increased at (sub)sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic regions of skeletal muscle fibres and within the microvascular endothelium following 12 weeks resistance-type exercise training in elderly individuals. Chapter 4 shows that FAK and paxillin colocalise at the (sub)sarcolemma of skeletal muscle fibres and within the microvasculature. Chapter 5 demonstrates that FAK and paxillin are increased at the (sub)sarcolemma and within the microvascular endothelium following 6 weeks endurance- and resistance-type exercise training in young previously sedentary individuals. The novel data generated in this thesis, in combination with recent literature findings, support the hypothesis that FAK and paxillin play an important role in upstream mechanotransduction signals that control skeletal muscle fibre hypertrophy, mitochondrial biogenesis, insulin sensitivity, microvascular function and angiogenesis.
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