Abstract
Athletes are often exposed to extreme physical stress during training or competitions. The consequent activation of the hypothalamus–hypophysis–adrenal (HPA) axis results in intensified steroid hormone production in the adrenal cortex. We determined the impact of an acute extreme physical stress on adrenal and gonadal steroidogenesis in healthy male professional athletes (n = 40). The subjects underwent an extreme physical load test until total voluntary fatigue between 14:00 and 18:00 when the hormone levels are relatively stable. Blood was taken before the start (baseline), at the peak load (peak), and 30 min following completion of the exercise (recovery). The vital parameters, lactate levels, and blood levels of the 14 steroid hormones were recorded. The multivariate statistical analysis of the results revealed that all monitored hormone levels increased upon stress. Significant changes in steroid concentrations were detected at peak versus baseline, peak versus recovery, and at baseline versus recovery. The mineralocorticoid (including aldosterone and corticosterone), glucocorticoid (11-deoxycortisol and cortisol), and androgen (androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) pathways, as well as gonadal testosterone synthesis are activated simultaneously under extreme physical load. The profiling of adrenal and gonadal steroid biosynthesis in athletes may help the characterization of their loading capacity.
Highlights
The intensive mental and physical stress encountered by professional athletes trigger adaptive mechanisms, including the activation of the hypothalamus–hypophysis—adrenal (HPA) axis [1]
The employed profiling approach allowed for the complex characterization of the adrenocortical and gonadal steroidogenesis following the collection of blood samples in a short time frame in response to extreme physical exercise
The results indicate that the employed methodology can be applied to the monitoring of the physiological status of professional athletes for multiple purposes
Summary
The intensive mental and physical stress encountered by professional athletes trigger adaptive mechanisms, including the activation of the hypothalamus–hypophysis—adrenal (HPA) axis [1]. The alterations in the circulating concentrations of endogenous (adrenocortical and gonadal) steroids have been related to individual physical capacity and condition, rendering these substances candidate biomarkers of stress tolerance and of the response to training. The association between adrenocortical steroidogenesis and the intensity and type of exercise or physical stress is not well understood [4,5,6]. The testing of athletes includes in-competition and out-of-competition investigations, with the latter having been initiated and conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee in connection with the Olympic or Paralympic Games, and the Athlete’s International Federation [7,8,9]
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