Physical Stress and Qualitative Gonadotropin Secretion: LH   Biological Activity at Rest and After Exercise in Trained and Untrained   Men

L. Di Luigi; L. Guidetti; C. Baldari; A. Fabbri; C. Moretti; F. Romanelli

doi:10.1055/s-2002-33149

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Int J Sports Med 2002; 23(5): 307-312
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-33149

Physiology and Biochemistry

Physical Stress and Qualitative Gonadotropin Secretion: LH Biological Activity at Rest and After Exercise in Trained and Untrained Men

L. Di Luigi¹ , L. Guidetti¹ , C. Baldari¹ , A. Fabbri² , C. Moretti² , F. Romanelli³

¹Unit of Endocrinology, University Institute of Motor Sciences (I.U.S.M.), Rome, Italy
²Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
³Division of Andrology, Department of Medical Pathophysiology, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

Abstract

Sports influence the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG). The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of physical stress on qualitative male LH secretion. We evaluated the HPG axis at rest and the LH response to a treadmill exercise (90 % of V˙O₂max) in eight trained (running 50 to 70 km/week) and eight untrained subjects. FSH, total testosterone (T) and free testosterone (FT) were evaluated at rest by radioimmunoassay, whereas serum LH was evaluated both by radioimmunoassay (I-LH) and by a biological assay (RICT, B-LH), before (-30, -15, 0 pre) and after exercise (0 post, + 15, + 30, + 60 min). Semen analysis was performed. The results showed that the B/I LH ratio was significantly lower at rest in athletes than in controls (1.3 ± 0.5 and 2.1 ± 0.7 respectively, p < 0.05) and the B-LH and B/I LH ratio were reduced after exercise in controls (from 21.1 ± 5.7 to 13.9 ± 3.4 mIU/mL and from 2.3 ± 0.8 to 1.6 ± 0.4, at + 60 respectively, p < 0.05). T and FT were significantly lower in athletes compared with controls (4.18 ± 1.1 vs 5.96 ± 1.6 ng/ml and 24.3 ± 4.8 vs 29.7 ± 5.2 pg/ml respectively, p < 0.05). Semen parameters showed no difference. The B/I LH ratio could be a “marker” of altered LHRH secretion due to an exercise-linked adaptive condition.

Key words

Physical exercise - bioactive LH - FSH - semen - testosterone - free testosterone

Volltext

Referenzen

References

1 Arce J C, De Souza M, Pescatello L S, Luciano A A. Subclinical alterations in hormone and semen profile in athletes. Fertil Steril. 1993; 59 398-404
2 Ayers J W, Komesu Y, Romani T, Ansbacher R. Anthropomorphic, hormonal and psychologic correlates of semen quality in endurance-trained athletes. Fertil Steril. 1985; 43 917-921
3 Bagatell C J, Bremmer W J. Sperm counts and reproductive hormones in male marathoners and lean controls. Fertil Steril. 1990; 53 688-692
4 Bergendahl M, Evans W S, Veldhuis J D. Current concepts on ultradian rhythms of luteinizing hormone secretion in the human. Hum Reprod Update. 1996; 2 507-518
5 Bonifazi M, Bela E, Carli G, Lodi L, Martelli G, Zhu B, Lupo C. Influence of training on the response of androgen plasma concentrations to exercise in swimmers. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1995; 70 109-114
6 Booth A, Mazur A C, Dabbs J M. Endogenous testosterone and competition: the effect of “fasting”. Steroids. 1993; 58 348-350
7 Buckman M T, Peake G T, Srivastaval L. Patterns of spontaneous LH release in normo- and hyperprolactinemic women. Acta Endocrinol. 1981; 97 305-311
8 Bullen B A, Skrinar G S, Beitins I Z, Carr D B, Reppert S M, Dotson C O, Fencl M M, Gervino E V, McArthur J W. Endurance training effects on plasma hormonal responsiveness and sex hormone excretion. J Appl Physiol. 1984; 56 1453-1463
9 Cumming D C, Wheeler G D, McColl E M. The effects of exercise on reproductive function in men. Sports Med. 1989; 7 1-17
10 Cumming D C. Hormones and athletic performance. In: Felig P, Baxter JD, Frohman LA, (eds) Endocrinology and metabolism. New York; Mc Graw Hill 1995: 1837-1886
11 De Souza M J, Arce J C, Pescatello L S, Scherzer H S, Luciano A A. Gonadal hormones and semen quality in male runners. Int J Sports Med. 1994; 15 383-391
12 De Souza M J, Miller B E. The effect of endurance training on reproductive function in male runners. A ‘volume threshold' hypothesis. Sports Med. 1997; 23 357-374
13 Duclos M, Corcuff J B, Rashedi M, Fougere V, Manier G. Does functional alteration of the gonadotropic axis occur in endurance trained athletes during and after exercise? A preliminary study. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1996; 73 427-433
14 Dufau M L, Veldhuis J D, Fraioli F, Johnson M L, Beitins I Z. Mode of secretion of bioactive LH in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983; 57 993-999
15 Duncan G E, Howley E T, Johnson B N. Applicability of V˙O₂max criteria: discontinuous versus continuous protocols. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997; 29 273-278
16 Dunger D B, Villa A K, Matthews D R, Edge J A, Jones J, Rothwell C, Preece M A, Robertson W R. Pattern of secretion of bioactive and immunoreactive gonadotrophins in normal pubertal children. Clin Endocrinol. 1991; 35 267-275
17 Fabbri A, Iannini E A, Ulisse S, Gnessi L, Moretti C, Frajese G, Isidori A. Low serum bioactive luteinizing hormone in non-organic male impotence: possible relationship with altered gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatility. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988; 76 867-875
18 Fahrner C L, Hackney A C. Effects of endurance exercise on free testosterone concentration and the binding affinity of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Int J Sports Med. 1998; 19 12-15
19 Fraioli F, Fabbri A, Gnessi L, Moretti C, Bonifacio V, Isidori A, Dufau M L. Naloxone increases bioactive LH in man: evidence for selective release of early LH pool. J Endocrinol Invest. 1985; 8 513-517
20 Fraioli F, Moretti C, Paolucci D, Alicicco E, Crescenzi F, Fortunio F. Physical exercise stimulates marked concomitant release of beta-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone in peripheral blood in man. Experentia. 1980; 36 987-988
21 Fritz M A, McLachlan R I, Cohen N L, Dahl K D, Bremner W J, Soules M R. Onset and characteristics of the midcycle surge in bioactive and immunoactive luteinizing hormone secretion in normal women: influence of physiological variations in periovulatory ovarian steroid hormone secretion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992; 75 489-493
22 Giusti M, Valenti S, Guido R, Cuttica C M, Foppiani L, Giordano G. LH isoform profiles during short-term pulsatile LHRH administration in elderly men. J Endocrinol Invest. 1997; 20 194-202
23 Gnessi L, Ferraris L, Ferretti R, Fabbri A, Moretti C, Bonifacio V, Isidori A, Fraioli F. In vitro bioassay of LH: some methodological aspects. J Endocrinol Invest. 1984; 7 33-37
24 Griffith R O, Dressendorfer R H, Fullbrigth C D, Wade C E. Testicular function during exhaustive endurance-trained males. Physician Sports Med. 1990; 18 54-64
25 Hackney A C, Dolny D G, Ness R J. Comparison of resting reproductive hormonal profiles in select athletic group. Biol Sport. 1988; 4 200-204
26 Hackney A C, Fahrner C L, Gulledge T P. Basal reproductive hormonal profiles are altered in endurance trained men. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1998; 38 138-141
27 Hackney A C. The male reproductive system and endurance exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996; 28 180-189
28 Hale R W, Kosaka T, Krieger J, Pepper S. A marathon: the immediate effect on female runners luteinizing hormone, prolactin, testosterone and cortisol levels. Am J Obst Gynecol. 1983; 146 550-556
29 Hoffman J R, Maresch C M, Armstrong L E, Gabaree C L, Bergeron M F, Kenefick R W, Castellani J W, Ahlquist L E, Ward A. Effects of hydration state on plasma testosterone, cortisol and cathecolamine concentrations before and during mild exercise at elevated temperature. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1994; 69 294-300
30 Huhtaniemi I, Ding Y Q, Tahtela R, Valimaki M. The bio/immuno ratio of plasma luteinizing hormone does not change during the endogenous secretion pulse: reanalysis of the concept using improved immunometric techniques. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992; 75 1442-1445
31 Issekutz B, Birkhead N C, Rodahl K. Use of the respiratory quotients in assessment of aerobic capacity. J Appl Physiol. 1962; 17 47-50
32 Jensen C E, Wiswedel K, McLouglin J, Van der Spuy Z. Prospective study of hormonal and semen profiles in marathon runners. Fertil Steril. 1995; 64 1189-1196
33 Kazas A, Mandroukas K, Kramouzis M, Panagiotopoulou G. Physical training, growth hormone and testosterone levels and blood pressure in prepubertal, pubertal and adolescent boys. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1994; 4 113-118
34 Lucia A, Chicharro J L, Perez M, Serratosa L, Bandres F, Legido J C. Reproductive function in male endurance athletes: sperm analysis and hormonal profile. J Appl Physiol. 1996; 81 2627-2636
35 MacConnie S E, Barkan A, Lampman R M, Schork M A, Beitins I Z. Decreased hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion in male marathon runners. N Engl J Med. 1986; 315 411-417
36 McArdle W D, Katch F I, Katch V L. Exercise Physiology. Energy, nutrition, and human performance. Baltimore; Williams & Wilkins 1996: 198
37 McColl E M, Wheeler G D, Gomes P, Bhambhani Y, Cumming D C. The effects of acute exercise on pulsatile LH release in high-mileage male runners. Clin Endocrinol. 1989; 31 617-621
38 Metra M, Raddino R, Dei Cas L, Visioli O. Assessment of peak oxygen consumption, lactate and ventilatory thresholds and correlation with resting and exercise hemodynamic data in chronic congestive heart failure. Am J Cardiol. 1990; 65 1127-1133
39 Nagamani M, Osuampke C, Kelver M E. Increased bioactive luteinizing hormone levels and bio/immuno ratio in women with hyperthecosis of the ovaries: possible role of hyperinsulinemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999; 84 1685-1689
40 Ono N, Bedran D e, Khorram O, McCann S M. Role of arginine-vasopressin in control of ACTH and LH release during stress. Life Sci. 1985; 36 1779-1786
41 Petraglia F, Sutton S, Vale W, Plotsky P. Corticotropin-releasing factor decreases plasma luteinizing hormone levels in female rats by inhibiting gonadotropin-releasing hormone release into hypophyseal-portal circulation. Endocrinology. 1988; 120 1083-1088
42 Raastad T, Bjoro T, Hallen J. Hormonal responses to high-and moderate-intensity strength exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000; 82 121-128
43 Roberts A C, McClure R D, Weiner R I, Brooks G A. Overtraining affects male reproductive status. Fertil Steril. 1993; 60 686-692
44 Rogol A D, Veldhuis J D, Williams F A, Johnson M L. Pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin and prolactin in male marathon runners. J Androl. 1984; 5 21-27
45 Spratt D I, Bigos S T, Beitins I, Cox P, Longcope C, Orav J. Both hyper-and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism occur transiently in acute illness: bio- and immunoactive gonadotropins. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992; 75 1562-1570
46 Strassman R J, Appenzeller O, Lewy A J, Qualls C R, Peake G T. Increase in plasma melatonin, beta-endorphin and cortisol after a 28.5 miles mountain race: relationship to performance and lack of effect of naltrexone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1989; 69 540-545
47 Talbot J A, Rodger R S, Shalet S M, Littley M D, Robertson W R. The pulsatile secretion of bioactive luteinising hormone in normal adult men. Acta Endocrinol. 1990; 122 643-650
48 Tsatoulis A, Shalet S M, Richardson P, Robertson W R. Testosterone reduces the bioactivity of luteinizing hormone (LH) in man. Clin Endocrinol. 1990; 32 73-82
49 Veldhuis J D, Dufau M L. Steroidal regulation of biologically active luteinizing hormone secretion in men and women. Hum Reprod. 1993; 8 84-96
50 Veldhuis J D, Urban R J, Dufau M L. Evidence that androgen negative feedback regulates hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone impulse strength and the burst-like secretion of biologically active luteinizing hormone in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992; 74 1227-1235
51 Wheeler G D, Singh M, Pierce W D, Epling F, Cumming D C. Endurance training decreases serum testosterone levels in men without change in luteinizing hormone pulsation release. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991; 72 422-425
52 Williams N I, Young J C, McArthur J W, Bulleb B, Skrinar G S, Turnbull B. Strenuous exercise with caloric restriction: effect on luteinizing hormone secretion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995; 27 1390-1398
53 World Health Organization .Laboratory Manual for Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction. Cambridge; Cambridge University Press 1992

Prof. L. Di Luigi, MD

Laboratorio di Ricerche Endocrine · Istituto Universitario di Scienze Motorie/IUSM

Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 15 · 00194 Rome · Italy ·

Telefon: +39 (06) 36733231

Fax: +39 (06) 36733231

eMail: iusm.endocrinol@iusm.it