title: Salivary Immuno Factors, Cortisol and Testosterone Responses in Athletes of a Competitive 5,000 m Race.
abstract: The exercise-stress model can be a model of temporary immunosuppression that occurs after severe physical and psychological stress. It also allows for the study of interactions between the endocrine and the immune systems. This study examined changes in salivary hormonal and immune factors in athletes in response to physical and psychological stress in a 5,000 m running competition. Eighteen endurance-trained runners (9 males and 9 females) participated in this study. All participants completed a competitive 5,000 m race. Saliva samples were collected 10 min before (PRE) and 10 min after (POST) the competition. Saliva was analyzed for α-amylase activity, concentrations of salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA), lactoferrin, cortisol, testosterone and total protein. Although the concentrations of salivary TP, SIgA, lactoferrin, cortisol and α-amylase activity were significantly increased immediately after a competitive 5,000 m race, the secretion rates of these factors were not significantly altered in both male and female groups. Additionally, basal levels of SIgA and α-amylase activity were significantly higher in female runners than in male runners. This gender difference still existed after the race. The secretion rates of testosterone decreased significantly after the race in the male, but not in the female group. Moreover, testosterone-to-cortisol (T/C) ratios were significantly lower post-competition compared to pre-competition in both male and female athletes. The T/C ratio had been used as a performance index for athletes. Whether there are correlations between these changes of their physiological characteristics and better running performance need further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genome Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Center for Infectious Disease and Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Athletics, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung 40404, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gi-Sheng
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Miau-Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Athletics, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung 40404, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shih-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012420:Running; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D013739:Testosterone; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D006854:Hydrocortisone