Plasma cortisol, androstenedione, testosterone and luteinizing hormone in running exercise of different intensities

Changes in plasma cortisol, androstenedione, testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured in five young male sprinters after maximal short-term running and in five young male long-distance runners after moderate (90 min, 4.3 min/km) and intense (45 min, 3.3 min/km) long-term running. Short-term running increased mean plasma cortisol (27%) and androstenedione (19%) significantly; no appreciable changes were found in mean plasma testosterone or LH levels. Intense long-term running caused considerable increases in mean plasma cortisol (43%) and androstenedione (53%). Immediately after the long-term runs mean plasma testosterone and LH did not show nay significant changes, but half an hour later mean plasma LH was found to have dropped significantly below the preceding level, by 42% after the moderate run and by 45% after the intense run. At this time the intense long-term run caused a significant decrease in mean plasma testosterone, which remained depressed up to 3 h after the end of the exercise. This study implies that the changes in plasma hormone levels depend more on the intensity of the exercise than on its duration. The activity of the pituitary-adrenocortical system appears to be a good indicator of the effort expended during the exercise. In the pituitary-testicular system, in contrast, the effort expended may be more accurately reflected by changes during the recovery period.