title: Gender differences in changes of motor cortex excitability during elevated blood lactate levels.
abstract: Gender differences in cortical excitability have been detected by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The present study was carried out to compare the effects of high blood lactate levels, induced by performing a maximal exhausting exercise, on the excitability of the primary motor cortex in young male and female athletes. The study was carried out on 21 young males and 20 females from the Middle Distance Track Team of our university. Before the exercise, at the end, as well as 5 and 10 min after the conclusion, venous blood lactate and glucose were measured and excitability of the motor cortex was evaluated by using TMS. We observed a similar enhancement of excitability of primary motor cortex, concomitantly with an increase of blood lactate, in both young male and female athletes. However, the improvement was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in women (37.4% +/- 3.97) than in men (42.0% +/- 6.43), suggesting a greater sensitiveness of female cerebral cortex to blood lactate.
authors: Department of Formative Processes, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. perciava@unict.it
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Perciavalle
authors: Marinella
authors: M
authors: Coco
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Alagona
authors: Tiziana
authors: T
authors: Maci
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Perciavalle
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid