Summary
This study was designed to verify if the decrease in blood prolactin (PRL) induced by selective face cooling during exercise could be part of a response to specific body thermal stress. Five healthy trained male cyclists presenting a significant plasma PRL elevation to exercise were, on three occasions and at weekly interval, submitted to a submaximal exercise (approx. 65%\(\dot V_{o_{2max} } v\)) on ergocycle with and without selective face cooling. In absence of face cooling a first trial served to establish reference values for workload, heart rate and plasma PRL levels, the latter increasing markedly (450% of resting values) in these conditions. On a second trial but with workload maintained at reference values (222±9 W), a significant bradycardia was observed with face cooling; furthermore, plasma PRL response to exercise was significantly reduced (to 31% of original response). On a third trial with face cooling, workload had to be significantly augmented (242±10 W) to maintain heart rate at reference level (78%HR max); in addition, plasma PRL response to exercise was almost unchanged compared to the reference-value level. The absence of a significant face cooling-induced decrease in sympathetic tonus, as evaluated through peripheral plasma catecholamines response, does not indicate a role for the autonomic nervous system in the face cooling-induced reduction of both heart rate and PRL responses during exercise. Assay of circulating peripheral beta-endorphins could indicate that the face cooling-induced PRL blunted response does not necessarily involve an opioid mediation. It was concluded that decreased plasma PRL levels could be associated to bradycardia, hyposudation and peripheral vaso-constriction to constitute an integrated response to face cooling during thermal stress.
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This study was supported by grants from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and from Régie de la Sécurité dans les Sports du Québec
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Brisson, G.R., Boisvert, P., Péronnet, F. et al. Face cooling-induced reduction of plasma prolactin response to exercise as part of an integrated response to thermal stress. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 58, 816–820 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02332212
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02332212