Detection and evaluation of persisting stress-induced hormonal disturbances by a post stress provocation test in humans

Abstract

Eighteen healthy army officers were subjected after prolonged rest to exhaustive ergometric work for about 15 minutes. Before and afterwards blood was taken from the cannulated antecubital vein for determination of free an sulfoconjugated catecholamines, cortisol, glucose, and white blood cell count. One week later, the same procedure was repeated with the same subjects with the difference that the probands underwent about 2.5 hours of difficult mountain climbing and a subsequent rest of 1.5 hours before ergometry. The most important results were: 1) total and bound fractions of catecholamines showed some significant differences between the first and second ergometry due to the previous mountain climbing stress; 2) serum cortisol did not increase after the first ergometry but did so significantly after the second ergometry due to the previous stress; low cortisol is not always indicative of the absence of stress; 3) the absolute number of white blood cells increased in both situttions, correlated significantly with the severity of the stress and the individual increases were more person than situation specific and; 4) blood glucose remained unaffected in both situations. We conclude that a previous stress experience can affect a second stress response and that such a post stress provocation test can uncover persistent hormonal alterations. This procedure may be useful for the evaluation of inaccessible stress situations from subsequent stress measures.