[The role of adrenocortical response to physical stress on the body's work capacity]

Adrenocortical reaction to muscular exertion was inhibited by the intramuscular injection of 125mg of dexamethasone for 2 days of every week of the training. The maximal swimming time in the water (33--34 degrees C) with an additional load of 3 per cent of body weight failed to increase after 5 weeks of training in the animals to which dexamethasome was infected. In these animals the blood corticosterone level increased less after the maximal swimming test than in rats trained without any dexamethasone administration.