Abstract
Purpose
We examined the effect of race-effort cycling exercise with and without heat stress on post-exercise perceptions of fatigue and pain, as well as mRNA expression in genes related to exercise responses.
Methods
Trained cyclists (n = 20) completed 40 km time trials during temperate (TC, 21 °C) and hot (HC, 35 °C) conditions. Blood lactates were measured 1 and 5 min post-exercise. Venous blood samples and ratings of fatigue and pain perceptions were obtained at baseline and at 0.5, 8, 24, and 48 h post-exercise. Leukocyte mRNA expression was performed for metabolite detecting, adrenergic, monoamine, and immune receptors using qPCR.
Results
Significantly lower mean power (157 ± 32.3 vs 187 ± 40 W) and lactates (6.4 ± 1.7 vs 8.8 ± 3.2 and 4.2 ± 1.5 vs 6.6 ± 2.7 mmol L−1 at 1- and 5-min post-exercise) were observed for HC versus TC, respectively (p < 0.05). Increases (p < 0.05) in physical fatigue and pain perception during TTs did not differ between TC and HC (p > 0.30). Both trials resulted in significant post-exercise decreases in metabolite detecting receptors ASIC3, P2X4, TRPV1, and TRPV4; increases in adrenergic receptors α2a, α2c, and β1; decreases in adrenergic β2, the immune receptor TLR4, and dopamine (DRD4); and increases in serotonin (HTR1D) and IL-10 (p < 0.05). Post-exercise IL-6 differed between TC and HC, with significantly greater increases observed following HC (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Both TT performances appeared to be regulated around a specific sensory perception of fatigue and pain. Heat stress may have compensated for lower lactate during HC, thereby matching changes in metabolite detecting and other mRNAs across conditions.
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Abbreviations
- ASIC:
-
Acid-sensing inward current
- ATP:
-
Adenosine triphosphate
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- CNS:
-
Central nervous system
- CFS:
-
Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Tcore :
-
Core temperature
- DA:
-
Dopamine
- DRD:
-
Dopamine receptor
- HC:
-
Heat condition
- HSP:
-
Heat shock protein
- IL:
-
Interleukin receptor
- Km:
-
Kilometer
- mRNA:
-
Messenger RNA
- P2X:
-
Purinergic
- qPCR:
-
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction
- RPE:
-
Rating of perceived exertion
- RM:
-
Repeated measures
- 5-HT:
-
Serotonin
- 5HTR1D:
-
Serotonin receptor
- TC:
-
Temperate condition
- TF2B:
-
Transcription factor IIB
- TLR:
-
Toll-like receptor
- TNFα:
-
Tumor necrosis factor α
- TRPV:
-
Transient receptor potential vanilloid channels
- TT:
-
Time trial
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Communicated by George Havenith.
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VanHaitsma, T.A., Light, A.R., Light, K.C. et al. Fatigue sensation and gene expression in trained cyclists following a 40 km time trial in the heat. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 541–552 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3311-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3311-9
Keywords
- Metabolite
- ASIC
- TRPV
- Muscle afferents
- Heat stress