Influence of thyroid hormones on exercise tolerance and lactate threshold in rats

Effects of thyroid hormone deficit, and triiodothyronine (T3) treatment on exercise performance, blood lactate (LA) concentrations and LA threshold (TLA) were studied in trained and untrained rats. Fourteen rats were thyroidectomized and then treated with propylthiouracil for 30 days (THY + PTU group). Fourteen sham operated rats served as controls. In each group there were 7 sedentary and 7 endurance-trained animals. Six weeks after thyroidectomy or sham operation the rats were subjected to a multistage running test with speed increasing from 13 m/min at 10 degrees treadmill inclination till maximum. Blood samples for LA were taken from the rats' tail after each 3-min exercise stage. During 3 days following this test rats from all groups were injected (i.p.) with 75 micrograms/100 g of triiodothyronine (T3), and 24 hrs afterwards the second exercise test was performed. In THY + PTU rats maximal running speed (RSmax) and the speed at which TLA occurred were markedly decreased in comparison with control group. The level of LA at the maximal speed (LAmax) and that corresponding to TLA were higher in THY + PTU rats than in controls. T3 injection to control animals diminished their RSmax and TLA, whereas in THY + PTU rats it increased RSmax and shifted TLA to a higher speed. Both in THY + PTU and control animals T3 elevated LAmax and the threshold LA concentration. Endurance training in control and THY + PTU animals markedly enhanced RSmax and TLA. This was accompanied by increases in LAmax and concentration of LA at TLA only in control group. After T3 injection to control trained rats RSmax and TLA were diminished, whereas in THY + PTU trained group RSmax was unchanged and TLA was elevated. Maximal blood LA increased only in THY + PTU trained rats whilst the threshold blood LA was elevated in both groups. It is concluded, that both the T3 deficiency and its excess reduce maximal exercise performance and shift TLA to lower workloads. Enduarance training or administration of T3 to hypothyroid rats markedly improve their exercise performance and elevate TLA, however, T3 treatment markedly increases maximal and submaximal LA levels.