title: Persistent effects of a marathon run on the pituitary-testicular axis.
abstract: Plasma levels of testosterone (T), LH, FSH, prolactin (PRL), cortisol (F), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), noradrenaline (NA), NA sulfate (NAS), adrenaline (A) and A sulfate (AS) were measured in 7 adult males before and immediately after a marathon run as well as every morning for 5 days after the run. While plasma T levels fell significantly on the first and the second postmarathon day, those of LH rose significantly during the first 3 postrun days. Plasma PRL and F values increased significantly only at the end of the marathon. Plasma levels of NA and NAS rose significantly at the end of the run and again on days 2 and 5 postmarathon, respectively. A similar pattern was observed for A and AS except for the second peak of free A. These results show that a strenuous physical exercise leads to a persistent relative insensitivity to LH of the testicular T biosynthetic machinery, while the feedback mechanisms operating at the hypothalamic-pituitary level are normal. Furthermore, they suggest that catecholamines may be responsible for the prolonged inhibitory effect of stress on T biosynthesis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000502:physiology*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000097:blood; D012420:Running; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; C018201:adrenaline sulfate; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; C017574:noradrenaline sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine