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Pituitary–adrenal responses to arm versus leg exercise in untrained man

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine pituitary–adrenal (PA) hormone responses [beta-endorphin (β-END), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol] to arm exercise (AE) and leg exercise (LE) at 60 and 80% of the muscle-group specific VO2 peak. Eight healthy untrained men (AE VO2 peak=32.4±3.0 ml kg−1 min−1, LE VO2 peak=46.9±5.3 ml kg−1 min−1) performed two sub-maximal AE and LE tests in random order. Plasma β-END, ACTH and cortisol were not different (P>0.05) between AE and LE at either exercise intensity; the 60% testing elicited no changes from pre-exercise (PRE) values. For 80% testing, plasma β-END, ACTH and cortisol were consistently, but not significantly, greater during LE than AE. In general, plasma β-END and ACTH were higher (P<0.05) during 80% exercise, than PRE, for both AE and LE. Plasma cortisol was elevated (P<0.05) above PRE during 80% LE, and following 80% for both AE and LE. Plasma ACTH was higher (P<0.05) during 80% LE and AE versus 60% LE and AE, respectively. Plasma β-END and cortisol were significantly higher during and immediately after 80% LE than 60% LE. Thus, plasma β-END, ACTH and cortisol responses were similar for AE and LE at the two relative exercise intensities, with the intensity threshold occurring somewhere between 60 and 80% of VO2 peak. It appears that the smaller muscle mass associated with AE was sufficient to stimulate these PA axis hormones in a manner similar to LE, despite the higher metabolic stress (i.e., plasma La-) associated with LE.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Sharon Dunphy, Cindy Palmer and Cheryl Weseman for their technical assistance, and the subjects for their cooperation. The study was partially supported by a grant from the University of Connecticut Research Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, 2095 Hillside Road, Unit 1110, Storrs, CT, 06269-1110, USA

    Carl M. Maresh, Bülent Sökmen, William J. Kraemer, Jay R. Hoffman, Greig Watson, Daniel A. Judelson, Catherine L. Gabaree-Boulant, Michael R. Deschenes, Jaci L. VanHeest & Lawrence E. Armstrong

  2. Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Carl M. Maresh, William J. Kraemer & Lawrence E. Armstrong

  3. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Carl M. Maresh, William J. Kraemer & Lawrence E. Armstrong

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  1. Carl M. Maresh
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  2. Bülent Sökmen
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  3. William J. Kraemer
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  4. Jay R. Hoffman
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  5. Greig Watson
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  6. Daniel A. Judelson
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  7. Catherine L. Gabaree-Boulant
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  9. Jaci L. VanHeest
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  10. Lawrence E. Armstrong
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Correspondence to Carl M. Maresh.

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Maresh, C.M., Sökmen, B., Kraemer, W.J. et al. Pituitary–adrenal responses to arm versus leg exercise in untrained man. Eur J Appl Physiol 97, 471–477 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0198-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0198-5

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