Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Altered hormonal response to short-term bicycle exercise in young men after prolonged physical strain, caloric deficit, and sleep deprivation

  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The hormonal response to a standardized bicycle exercise test was studied in 11 male cadets exposed to a course of 107 h of continuous activity with less than 2 h sleep. The subjects expended about 8,600–11,000 kcal/24 h whereas their daily food intake contained only about 1,500 kcal. The exercise test was performed once 12 days before the course (control experiment) and on day 3 and day 5 during the course, always between 0700–0900 h.

A two to six fold increase was seen in the resting levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, and growth hormone during the course whereas a decrease was observed for thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and prolactin. Cortisol increased on day 3 and then decreased to precourse levels on day 5.

The response to the exercise test during the course for all catecholamines was a further increase aboye and proportional to the raisted resting levels. Growth hormone increased by about 6–8 Μg/l both before and during the course. During the exercise test, cortisol decreased before the course whereas it increased during the course. All plasma levels of cortisol were higher on day 3 than on day 5 and in the control experiment.

The post-exercise insulin increase was reduced during the course corresponding to a reduction in blood glucose levels. Prolactin decreased during and after exercise in the control experiment, whereas on day 5 the opposite response was seen. No changes in the disappearance rate of different hormones were observed during the course.

The present investigation has demonstrated that prolonged strain severely affects the resting plasma levels of different hormones as well as the endocrine response to a short-term physical exercise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aakvaag A, Bentdal, Quigstad K, Walstad P, RØnningen H, Fonnum F (1978a) Testostrone and testosterone binding globulin (TeBG) in young men during prolonged stress. Int J Androl 1: 22–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Aakvaag A, Sand T, Opstad PK, Fonnum F (1978b) Hormonal changes in serum in young men during prolonged physical strain. Eur J Appl Physiol 39: 283–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Adlerkreutz H, Kuoppasalmi K, Kosunen K, Pakarinen A, Karonen SK (1976) Plasma cortisol, growth hormone (GH) and prolactin levels during exposure to intense heat. IRCS Med Sci 4: 546

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom SR, Johnson RH, Park DM, Rennie MJ, Sulaiman WR (1976) Differences in the metabolic and hormonal response to exercise between racing cyclists and untrained individuals. J Physiol (Lond) 258: 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Browdows RG, Pi-Sunyer FX, Campbell RG (1973) Neural control of counter-regulatory events during gucopenia in man. J Clin Invest 52: 1841–1844

    Google Scholar 

  • Brezezinska Z, Kaciuba-Uscilko H (1977) Metabolic responses to catecholamines in dogs injected with a single dose of triiodothyronine. Arch Int Physiol Biochim 85: 487–495

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugge JF, Opstad PK, Magnus PM (1979) Changes in circadian rythm of performance and mood in healthy young men exposed to prolonged heavy physical work, sleep deprivation, and caloric deficit. Aviat Space Environ Med 50: 663–668

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell A, Fain JN (1971) Triiodothyronine stimulation of cyclic adinosine 3′,5′-monophosphate accumulation in fat cells. Endocrinology 89: 1995–1204

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen NJ, Galbo H, Hansen JF, Hesse B, Richter EA, Trap-Jensen J (1979) Catecholamines and exercise. Diabetes [Suppl 1] 28: 58–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper CC, Nelson DH (1962) ACTH levels in plasma in preoperative and surgically stressed patients. J Clin Invest 41: 1599

    Google Scholar 

  • Da Prada M, Zurcher G (1976) Simultaneous radioenzymatic determination of plasma and tissue adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, and dopamine within the femtomole range. Life Sci 19: 1161–1174

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies CTM, Few JD (1973) Effects of exercise on adrenocortical function. J Appl Physiol 35: 887–891

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler US von (1974) Sympato-adrenal activity in physical exercise. Med Sci Sports 6: 165–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Fain JN, Rosenthal JW (1971) Calorigenic action of triiodothyronin on white fat cells; effect of ouabain, oligomycin, and catecholamines. Endocrinology 89: 1205–1211

    Google Scholar 

  • Galbo H, Richter EA, Hilsted J, Holst JJ, Christensen NJ, Henriksson J (1977) Hormonal regulation during prolonged exercise. Ann N Acad Sci 301: 72–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilman AG, Murad F (1975) Adenohypophysical hormones and related substances. In: Goodman L, Gilman A (eds). The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. MacMillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein A (1964) Biostatistics. An introductory text. MacMillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagenfeldt L, Wahren J (1971) Metabolism of free fatty acids and ketone bodies in skeletal muscle. In: Pernow B, Saltin B (eds). Muscle metabolism during exercise. Plenum Press, New York London, pp 153–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Haug E, Frey HMM, Sand T (1977) The thyrotrophin response to thyrotrophin releasing hormone during treatment in patients with Graves' disease. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 85: 335–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmboe J, Bell H, Norman N (1975) Urinary excretion of catecholamines and steroids in military cadets exposed to prolonged stress. Försvarsmedicin 11: 183–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Howald H, Glutz G, von Billeter R (1978) Energy stores and substrates utilization in muscle during exercise. In: Landry F, Orban WAR (eds) International symposium on biochemistry of exercise, 3. Miami, Fla, pp 389

  • Hultmann E (1978) Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in the liver during rest and exercise with special reference to diet. In: Landry F, Orban WAR (eds), International symposium on biochemistry of exercise, 3. Miami, Fla. pp 389

  • Lehmann EL (1975) Nonparametrics. Statistical methods based on ranks. Holden-Day, San Francisco, p 475

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindemann R, Ekanger R, Opstad PK, Nummestad M, Ljosland R (1978) Hemalogical changes in normal men during prolonged severe exercise. Am Corr Ther J 32: 107–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Melander A, Ericson LE, Ljunggren JG, Norberg KA, Persson B, Sundler F, Tibblin S, Westgren U (1974) Sympathetic innervation of the normal human thyroid. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 39: 713–718

    Google Scholar 

  • Melander A, Nilsson E, Lundler F (1972) Sympathetic activation of thyroid hormone secretion in mice. Endocrinology 90: 194–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Melander A, Randklev E, Sundler F, Westgren U (1975) Beta2-adrenergic stimulation of thyroid hormone secretion. Endocrinology 97: 332–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Newsholm EA (1978) Control of energy provision and utilization in muscle in relation to sustained exercise. In: Landry F, Orban WAR (eds) International symposium on biochemistry of exercise, 3. Miami, Fla, pp 389

  • Noel GL, Suh HK, Stone JG, Frantz AG (1972) Human prolactin and growth hormone release during surgery and other conditions of stress. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 35: 840–851

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman N, Turter AR (1968) Radioimmunoassay studies with human growth hormone and a pituitary lipid mobilizing factor. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 58: 318–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Opstad PK, Ekanger R, Nummestad M, Raabe N (1978) Performance, mood, and clinical symptoms in men exposed to prolonged, severe physical work and sleep deprivation. Aviat Space Environ Med 49: 1065–1073

    Google Scholar 

  • Opstad PK, Ljosland R, Lindemann R, Knudsen-Baas O, Rognum T (1980) Hematological changes in young men exposed to prolonged heavy physical exercise and sleep deprivation and the effect of a high and low caloric diet. (in prep)

  • Opstad PK, Aakvaag A (1980) The effect of a high and low calorie diet on the hormonal changes in young men during prolonged physical strain and sleep deprivation. Eur J Appl Physiol (subm)

  • Rognum TO, HØstmark AT, Vaage O, Opstad PK (1980) Metabolic responses to bicycle exercise after several days of physical work and energy deficiency. Scand J Clin Lab Invest (subm)

  • Rosenquist U (1972) Adrenergic receptor response in hypothyroidism and in vitro study on human adipose tissue and rabbit aorta. Acta Med Scand [Suppl] 532: 1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutlin E, Haug E, Torjesen PA (1977) Serum thyrotropin, prolactine, and growth hormone, response to TRH during oestrogen treatment. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 84: 23–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Sand T, Torjesen PA (1973) Dextran-coated charcoal used in the radioimmunoassay of human pituitary luteinizing hormone. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 73: 444–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Sowers JR, Raj RP, Hershman JM, Carlson HE, McCallum RW (1977) The effects of stressful diagnostic studies and surgery on anterior pituitary hormone release in man. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 86: 25–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg DI, Nestel PJ, Elseworth R, Bosirk R, Thompson RA (1964) Calorigenic effect of norepinephrine correlated with plasma free fatty acid turnover and oxidation. J Clin Invest 43: 167–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundsfjord JA, Strömme SB, Aakvaag A (1975) Plasma aldosterone (PA), plastic renin activity (PRA), and cortisol (PF) during exercise. Res Steroids 6: 133–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton JR, Young JD, Lazarus L, Hickie JB, Maksvytis J (1969) The hormone response to physical exercise. Aust Ann Med 18: 84–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Svedmyr N (1966) The influence of thyroxine treatment and thyroidectomy on the calorigenic and some other metabolic effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline in experiments on fasted rabbits. Acta Physiol Scand 257–268

  • Torjesen PA, Haug E, Sand T (1973) Effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on serum levels of pituarity hormons in men and women. Acta Endocrinol 73: 455–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Vendsalu A (1960) Studies on adrenaline and noradrenaline in human plasma. Acta Physiol Scand [Suppl 173] 49: 127

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldum HL, Huser PO (1974) Stress-reaksjoner under usedvanlig harde militÆrvelser i fredstid. SÆrtrykk av Sanitetsnytt 1: 39–56

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, N-2007, Kjeller, Norway

    Per K. Opstad

  2. Hormone and Isotope Laboratory, Aker Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    AsbjØrn Aakvaag

  3. Institute of Work Physiology, Oslo, Norway

    Torleiv O. Rognum

Authors
  1. Per K. Opstad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. AsbjØrn Aakvaag
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Torleiv O. Rognum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Per Kristian Opstad is a fellow of the Norwegian Council of Science and the Humanities

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Opstad, P.K., Aakvaag, A. & Rognum, T.O. Altered hormonal response to short-term bicycle exercise in young men after prolonged physical strain, caloric deficit, and sleep deprivation. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 45, 51–62 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421201

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421201

Key words

Search

Navigation