title: Androgenic hormones during prolonged physical stress, sleep, and energy deficiency.
abstract: Androgenic hormones were investigated during two separate 5-day military endurance training courses, with physical activities around the clock corresponding to a daily energy consumption of about 40,000 kilojoules, but with an intake of only 2,000 kilojoules. Altogether, the cadets slept for 1-3 h in the 5 days. Eleven male cadets participated in course I, and 10 in course II. Plasma levels of testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and androstenedione decreased by 60-80% during the course. In contrast, plasma cortisol, aldosterone, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate increased. LH, FSH, and ACTH decreased to about 50-80% of precourse levels. Weak correlations between plasma levels of hypophyseal and levels of adrenal and testicular hormones indicate a multifactorial regulation. In conclusion, both adrenal and testicular androgens decrease during prolonged physical strain combined with energy and sleep deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, Division for Environmental Toxicology, Kjeller.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Opstad
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000450:Aldosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone