Physical stress and qualitative gonadotropin secretion: LH biological activity at rest and after exercise in trained and untrained men.

Full Abstract

Sports influence the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG). The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of physical stress on qualitative male LH secretion. We evaluated the HPG axis at rest and the LH response to a treadmill exercise (90 % of Vdot;O 2 max) in eight trained (running 50 to 70 km/week) and eight untrained subjects. FSH, total testosterone (T) and free testosterone (FT) were evaluated at rest by radioimmunoassay, whereas serum LH was evaluated both by radioimmunoassay (I-LH) and by a biological assay (RICT, B-LH), before (-30, -15, 0 pre) and after exercise (0 post, + 15, + 30, + 60 min). Semen analysis was performed. The results showed that the B/I LH ratio was significantly lower at rest in athletes than in controls (1.3 +/- 0.5 and 2.1 +/- 0.7 respectively, p < 0.05) and the B-LH and B/I LH ratio were reduced after exercise in controls (from 21.1 +/- 5.7 to 13.9 +/- 3.4 mIU/mL and from 2.3 +/- 0.8 to 1.6 +/- 0.4, at + 60 respectively, p < 0.05). T and FT were significantly lower in athletes compared with controls (4.18 +/- 1.1 vs 5.96 +/- 1.6 ng/ml and 24.3 +/- 4.8 vs 29.7 +/- 5.2 pg/ml respectively, p < 0.05). Semen parameters showed no difference. The B/I LH ratio could be a "marker" of altered LHRH secretion due to an exercise-linked adaptive condition.

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Author information

Author/s: Di Luigi, L (L); Guidetti, L (L); Baldari, C (C); Fabbri, A (A); Moretti, C (C); Romanelli, F (F);

Affiliation: Unit of Endocrinology, University Institute of Motor Sciences (I.U.S.M.), Rome, Italy. iusm.endocrinol(-atsign-)iusm.it

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: International journal of sports medicine (Int J Sports Med), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jul; vol 23 (issue 5) : pp 307-12

Dates: Created 2002/08/07; Completed 2002/10/09; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12165880, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Analysis of Variance
Exercise - physiology
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; secretion
Humans
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - secretion
Luteinizing Hormone - blood; secretion

Luteinizing Hormone - blood; secretion
Male
Physical Education and Training
Pituitary-Adrenal System - secretion
Rest - physiology
Semen - physiology
Testosterone - blood; secretion

Associated Chemicals: Testosterone (58-22-0) ; Luteinizing Hormone (9002-67-9) ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone (9002-68-0)

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