We hypothesized that suppression of endogenous testosterone blunts mRNA expression post strength training. Twenty-two young men were randomized for treatment with the GnRH-analogue goserelin (3.6 mg every 4 weeks) or placebo for a period of 12 weeks. The ST period of 8 weeks started at week 4. Strength test, blood sampling, muscle biopsies, and whole body DXA-scan were performed at weeks 4 and 12. Muscle biopsies were performed during the final ST session (pre, post 4 h, and post 24 h). Resting serum testosterone decreased significantly (p<0.01) in the goserelin group from 22.6 ± 1.6 (mean ± SE) nmol/l to 2.0 ± 0.1 (week 4), whereas it remained unchanged in the placebo group. An acute increase of serum testosterone was observed during the final ST session in placebo group (p<0.05), whereas a decreased response was observed in goserelin group (p<0.05). mRNA expression of IGF-IE(bc) and myogenin increased while expression of myostatin decreased (p<0.01); however, no differences were observed between the groups. Muscle strength and muscle mass showed a tendency to increase more in the placebo group than in the goserelin group (p=0.05). In conclusion, in spite of blocked acute responses of testosterone and 10 - 20 fold lower resting levels in the goserelin group, ST resulted in a similar mRNA expression of myoD, myogenin, IGF-IE(abc), myostatin, and androgen receptor as observed in the placebo group. Therefore, in the present study the molecular events were the same, in spite of divergent muscle hypertrophy and strength gains.