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Human galanin secretion is increased upon normal exercise test in middle-age individuals
I N Legakis1, T Mantzouridis, A Saramantis
13rd Academic Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria Hospital, Athens, Greece. legakis@ath.forthnet.gr
Endocrine Research
|October 6, 2000
Summary
This study found that acute exercise significantly increases both growth hormone (GH) and human galanin (hGAL) levels in middle-aged adults. However, the increases in these hormones were independent of each other, suggesting distinct regulatory mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Galanin (hGAL), a neuropeptide, is present in the central nervous system and non-brain tissues like the adrenal medulla and pancreas.
- Galanin is implicated in regulating growth hormone (GH) release, particularly in response to stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute effects of a 20-minute exercise session on plasma hGAL and GH levels in middle-aged adults.
- To determine if exercise-induced changes in hGAL and GH are correlated in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Thirteen healthy middle-aged volunteers (40-50 years) with normal BMI and no endocrine abnormalities participated.
- Basal GH and hGAL levels were measured after an overnight fast.
- Post-exercise levels were measured immediately after a 20-min exercise test and 15 minutes later.
- GH and hGAL concentrations were determined using immunoradiometric and radioimmunoassay methods, respectively.
Main Results:
- Exercise significantly increased GH levels, peaking 15 minutes post-exercise (12.09 +/- 1.96 ng/ml vs. basal 1.27 +/- 0.7 ng/ml, p<0.0001).
- Plasma hGAL levels also significantly increased post-exercise, peaking 15 minutes later (24.0 +/- 10.5 pg/ml vs. basal 13.46 +/- 7.2 pg/ml, p<0.015).
- No statistically significant time-correlation was found between the increments of GH and hGAL post-exercise.
Conclusions:
- Acute exercise effectively stimulates both GH and hGAL release in middle-aged adults.
- The independent responses of GH and hGAL suggest separate regulatory pathways are involved.
- The heightened responsiveness of hGAL may be linked to a larger releasable pool in this age group.