title: Training of elite cyclists: effects on mood state and selected hormonal responses.
abstract: The psychobiological status of cyclists over a period of 8 months of training was assessed by measuring the sympatho-adrenal level, the central noradrenergic activity, and the cortisol-testosterone ratio status noninvasively. Alteration of these indices after a large increase in training load lasting 4 days (+ 187%) was also examined. Urinary excretion of methoxyamines (metanephrine, normetanephrine) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol sulphate (MHPG-S), and salivary concentrations of cortisol and testosterone, were measured in 12 national cyclists after a non-specific training period and 48 h before 4 days of increased training (T1), after these 4 days (T2) and at the end of 4 months of specific training (T3). Urinary and salivary samples were also collected during a rest period (T0). At each of these times, mood states and ratings of perceived muscle soreness were assessed, and a questionnaire of early clinical symptoms of the overtraining syndrome (Profile of Mood States) was administered. A significant increase in normetanephrine (P < 0.05) and a decrease in the testosterone-cortisol ratio (P < 0.05) were observed at T2, while MHPG-S excretion remained unchanged. Over the same periods, increased training loads did not induce mood disturbances. Eight months of training were associated with significant alterations in metanephrine (P < 0.05) and MHPG-S (P < 0.05). These results suggest a dissociation between the neural and endocrine catecholaminergic components systems. Opposite responses between MHPG-S and Profile of Mood States scores show that further investigations are needed to understand the relationship between central noradrenergic function, which is recognized as a regulatory factor of mood, and psychological tests measuring mood.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de la Performance Motrice, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France. efilaire@nat.fr
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Filaire
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lac
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pequignot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002395:Catecholamines; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones