title: Vascular endothelial growth factor in exercising humans under different environmental conditions.
abstract: It was the aim of this study to investigate the time course of changes in the serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during a regular survival training programme combined with food and fluid deprivation and during a high altitude marathon run. We studied soldiers of the Austrian Special Forces performing survival training at sea-level and marathon runners of the Posta Atletica who crossed the border between Chile and Argentina at altitudes up to 4722 m. Baseline data collected before the 1-week of survival training showed that the soldiers had normal VEGF [n = 8, 246.7 (SD 118.5) pg.ml(-1)] serum concentrations which remained unchanged during the course of the study. Before the high altitude marathon the subjects showed normal VEGF serum concentrations [178 (SD 84.5) pg.ml(-1)]. After the run VEGF concentrations were found to be significantly decreased [41.0 (SD 41.6) pg ml(-1), P < 0.01]. It was concluded that prolonged physical stress during normobaric-normoxia did not alter the VEGF concentrations whereas during severe hypobaric-hypoxia decreased VEGF serum concentrations were measured, at least temporarily, after prolonged physical exercise which might have been due to changes in production, release, removal and/or binding of circulating VEGF.
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin, Physiologisches Institut, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gunga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Röcker
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Behn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koralewski
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Davila
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johannes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wittels
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jelkmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D013534:Survival; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors