Prolonged exercise increases peripheral plasma ACTH, CRH, and AVP in male athletes.
We wished to determine whether the increased ACTH during prolonged exercise was associated with changes in peripheral corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and/or arginine vasopressin (AVP). Six male triathletes were studied during exercise: 1 h at 70% maximal oxygen consumption, followed by progressively increasing work rates until exhaustion. Data obtained during the exercise session were compared with a nonexercise control session. Venous blood was sampled over a 2-h period for cortisol, ACTH, CRH, AVP, renin, glucose, and plasma osmolality. There were significant increases by ANOVA on log-transformed data in plasma cortisol (P = 0.002), ACTH (P < 0.001), CRH (P < 0.001), and AVP (P < 0.03) during exercise compared with the control day. A variable increase in AVP was observed after the period of high-intensity exercise. Plasma osmolality rose with exercise (P < 0.001) and was related to plasma AVP during submaximal exercise (P < 0.03) but not with the inclusion of data that followed the high-intensity exercise. This indicated an additional stimulus to the secretion of AVP. The mechanism by which ACTH secretion occurs during exercise involves both CRH and AVP. We hypothesize that high-intensity exercise favors AVP release and that prolonged duration favors CRH release.
Inder
W J
WJ
Department of Endocrinology, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Hellemans
J
J
Swanney
M P
MP
Prickett
T C
TC
Donald
R A
RA
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports
D001786:Blood Glucose; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone