The different hormonal system during exercise stress coping in horses

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science

Background:

• Exercise induces complex hormonal responses crucial for adaptation and homeostasis.
• Understanding these endocrine shifts is vital for optimizing athletic performance and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the hormonal changes occurring during and after exercise stress.
• To elucidate the roles of various hormonal axes in exercise adaptation and recovery phases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of hormonal responses to exercise.
• Analysis of endocrine regulation during exercise and recovery phases.
• Examination of hormonal interactions with energy metabolism and homeostasis.

Main Results:

• Exercise increases hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline, ACTH, cortisol, and growth hormone, while decreasing insulin.
• Hormonal responses vary with exercise intensity, duration, and emotional content.
• Recovery involves distinct catabolic and anabolic phases mediated by specific hormonal axes (sympathetic-adrenal-medullary, HPA, GH-IGF-I, gonadal).

Conclusions:

• Hormonal responses to exercise are integrated regulatory mechanisms essential for maintaining homeostasis.
• The interplay between hormonal axes, such as HPA and HPT, is critical for energy demands during exercise.
• Hormonal systems actively manage substrate mobilization and utilization, influencing cardiovascular and fluid balance.