Follistatin - breaking news

[mimolover]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Follistatin

This might actually be something worth researching into. Basically, its a cell growth regulator that exists in all animal cells that may split, repair, orundertake differentiation. It could be the answer to alleviating wasting diseases in some, and obviously a bodybuilding aid. Just read it and tell what you think.

[Yachirobi]

Here's what wikipedia says since most of the article is beyond my comprehension.

Follistatin is being studied for its role in regulation of muscle growth in mice, as an antagonist to myostatin (also known as GDF-8, a TGF superfamily member) which inhibits excessive muscle growth. Lee & McPherron demonstrated that inhibition of GDF-8, either by genetic elimination (knockout mice) or by increasing the amount of follistatin, resulted in greatly increased muscle mass.[3][4] In 2009, research with macaque monkeys demonstrated that regulating follistatin via gene therapy also resulted in muscle growth and increases in strength. This research paves the way for human clinical trials, which are hoped to begin in the summer of 2010 on Inclusion body myositis.[5]
A study has also shown that increased levels of follistatin, by leading to increased muscle mass of certain core muscular groups, can increase life expectancy in cases of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in animal models.[6]

[Tronald]

Follistatin is good because Myostatin (literally muscle-stopper) is so bad.

Myostatin causes the body to catabolize (burn) muscle tissues for energy. This was a good thing on the plains of Africa because our survival depended on being built for long-distance running (our prey, like gazelles, overheat after long sprints), and so Evolution favored being built like a marathoner (and being relatively hairless and sweaty so we ourselves didn't overheat ).

If we're genetically normal humans, we get the myostatin-producing gene from both Mom & Dad and as a result our muscles themselves produce the myostatin that seeds their own breakdown. What we call "anabolic" (growth promoting) turns out to be mostly "anti-catabolic" (breakdown-stopping).

For whatever reason, Follistatin, produced by the linings of our blood vessels, binds to Myostatin, and stops the muscle breakdown. It seems to me that one key to muscle growth is attention to circulatory health, but they don't yet know what might boost Follistatin production.

[mimolover]

the sources of follistatin are already inside most biologically active cells in the body already. I knew some people were asking where an extra source could be obtained for obvious reasons, but still none exist that I know of. Im sure a clever biochemist will make a fortune out of synthesising and selling it eventually.

[collegemuscle]

ummmmmm.... follistatin drugs exist folks. the problem is that myostatin, while it does regulate the genetic potential of one's muscle growth, also regulates the strength of tendons and other connective tissue. it's another way of the body protecting itself. the body is smarter than what we understand of it and if you fuck with it's system by inhibiting myostatin you may get uncontrolled muscle growth, but you also get weak joins and possibly displaced myofascia which basically means the larger muscle is rendered useless. it creates a perfect physiological environment for snapped tendons and torn muscles and possibly even ligaments from the simplest movement as flexing.
so there is still much research to be done before this type of drug should be used by anyone, including bodybuilders

[polomuscle]

probably the best version of this drug is the fantasy one, that turns you into a muscle beast with a few injections.

[BIGJOEY]

There is at present a $850,000 dollar study on follistatin in the Childerens Hospital in Ohio, The study is suppose to take 2 years . I do have a lot of info on peptides and am willing to share with anybody. Peptides are protein chains and not anabolics so the react differently in the body. They do work so you know. If you want more info let me know.