Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 61, Issue 4 1337-1339, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Plasma adrenocorticotropin and cortisol responses to brief high-intensity exercise in humans
M. J. Buono, J. E. Yeager and J. A. Hodgdon
The purpose of this study is to examine plasma cortisol and
adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels following a brief high-intensity bout of
exercise. Each subject (n = 6) performed a 1-min bout of exercise on a
cycle ergometer at 120% of his maximum O2 uptake. Blood samples were
collected at rest, immediately following the exercise bout, and at 5, 15,
and 30 min postexercise. Mean (+/- SE) plasma ACTH levels increased
significantly (P less than 0.05) from 2.2 +/- 0.4 pmol/l at rest to 6.2 +/-
1.7 pmol/l immediately following exercise. Mean (+/- SE) plasma cortisol
levels increased significantly from 0.40 +/- 0.04 mumol/l at rest to 0.52
+/- 0.04 mumol/l at 15 min postexercise. These data show that brief
high-intensity exercise results in significant increases in plasma cortisol
and ACTH levels. Furthermore, the temporal sequence between the two
hormones suggests that the increase in plasma cortisol levels following
brief high-intensity exercise is the result of ACTH-induced steroidogenesis
in the adrenal cortex.
