Hormonal and vascular fluid responses to maximal exercise in trained and untrained males

The trained condition is associated with alterations in fluid regulation. In attempt to elucidate mechanisms responsible for these differences, resting, postexercise (maximal treadmill exercise of 8-13 min duration), and recovery measurements were made in seven trained (mean peak O2 consumption was 60.5 +/- 1.6 ml.kg-1.min-1) and seven untrained (mean peak O2 consumption was 40.7 +/- 1.7 ml.kg-1.min-1) male subjects. Samples were obtained by venipuncture with subjects seated. No significant differences in resting plasma osmolality (Osm), sodium, potassium, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), aldosterone, renin activity, or atrial natriuretic factor were found between groups. Maximal exercise produced significant increases in all of the above variables. Values immediately postexercise were similar between groups except for plasma Osm and sodium, which were significantly higher in the untrained group. Despite a reduction in plasma volume of equal magnitude in both groups, trained subjects demonstrated an increase in vascular proteins and mean corpuscular volume during exercise. This increase in plasma protein may be an important initiating factor responsible for the elevated plasma volume after 1-h recovery from exercise in the trained group. Lastly, similar ADH responses despite lower Osm in trained subjects may indicate that training increases the sensitivity of ADH to osmotic stimulation.