Skip to main content
Log in

Hormonal changes in serum in young men during prolonged physical strain

  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The endocrine response to severe physical strain including lack of sleep has been investigated in army personnel during a combat course of 5 days' duration. The thyroxine (T4) concentration in serum increased during the first 24 h, and then declined at a rate corresponding to a halflife of 7.6 days and on day 6 reached the lowest level, 55 ng/ml. Triiodothyronine (T3) displayed a similar pattern, although an increase during the first 24 h could not be demonstrated. Within 48 h after the course T4 had returned to normal, whereas the serum level of T3 was significantly below the level before the course (p<0.05). The serum level of TSH was suppressed during the course.

The serum level of prolactin was significantly suppressed and growth hormone was markedly elevated during the course with a significant negative correlation (r=−0.6) between the two. In agreement with a previous report, there was a rapid and sustained suppression of the serum level of testosterone to a mean level of 1.1 ng/ml on day 5.

Short periods of sleep (3–6 h) were shown to be effective in reversing the changes described in this paper, especially for growth hormone, prolactin, and testosterone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aakvaag, A., Bentdal, Ø., Quigstad, K., Walstad, P., RØnningen, H., Fonnum, F.: Testosterone and testosterone binding globulin (TeBG) in young men during prolonged stress. Internat. J. Andrology 1, 1–11 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Adlerkreutz, H., Kuoppasalmi, K., Kosunen, K., Pakarinen, A., Karonen, S. K.: Plasma cortisol, growth hormone (GH), and prolactin levels during exposure to intense heat. IRCS Medical Science 4, 546 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartke, A., Dalterio, S.: Effects of prolactin on the sensitivity of the testis to LH. Biol. Reprod. 15, 90–93 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Croxson, M. S., Hall, T. D., Keltzky, O. A., Jaramillo, J. E., Nicoloff, J. T.: Decreased serum thyrotropin induced by fasting. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 45, 560–568 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Galbo, H., Hummer, L., Petersen, I. B., Christensen, N. J., Bie, N.: Thyroid and testicular hormone responses to graded and prolonged exercise in man. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 36, 101–106 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Haug, E., Frey, H. M. M., Sand, T.: The thyrotrophin response to thyrotrophin releasing hormone during treatment in patients with Graves' disease. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 85, 335–344 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmboe, J., Bell, H., Norman, N.: Urinary excretion of catecholamines and steroids in military cadets exposed to prolonged stress. Försvarsmedicin 11, 183–191 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowski, R., GrÄf, K.-J.: Influence of dopaminergic agonists and antagonists on serum prolactin concentration in the rat. Neuroendocrinology 22, 273–286 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Irvine, C. H. G.: Effects of exercise on thyroxine degradation in athletes and nonathletes. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 28, 942–948 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkeby, K., StrØmme, S. B., Refsum, H. E.: Effects of prolonged strenuous exercise on lipids and thyroxine in serum. Acta Med. Scand. 202, 463–476 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, J. W.: A review of psychoendocrine research on the pituitary-thyroid system. Psychosom. Med. 30, 666–681 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitsuma, T., Nihei, N., Gershengorn, M. C., Hollander, C. S.: Serum triiodothyronine: Measurements in human serum by radioimmunoassay with corroboration by gas-liquid chromatography. J. Clin. Invest. 50, 2679–2688 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, G. P., Simpkins, J., Meites, J., Moore, K. E.: Differential effects of dopamine agonists and haloperidol on release of prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, growth hormone and luteinizing hormone in rats. Neuroendocrinology 20, 121–135 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Naess, O., Haug, E., Attramadal, A., Aakvaag, A., Hansson, V., French, F.: Androgen receptors in the anterior pituitary and central nervous system of the androgen “insensitive” (Tfm) rat: Correlation between receptor binding and effects of androgens on gonadotropin secretion. Endocrinology 99, 1295–1303 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicoloff, J. T., Low, J. C., Dussault, J. H., Fisher, D. A.: Simultaneous measurement of thyroxine and triiodothyronine peripheral turnover kinetics in man. J. Clin. Invest. 51, 473–483 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Noel, G. L., Dimond, R. C., Earll, J. M., Frantz, A. G.: Prolactin, thyrotropin, and growth hormone release during stress associated with parachute jumping. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 47, 543–547 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Noel, G. L., Suh, H. K., Stone, J. G., Frantz, A. G.: Human prolactin and growth hormone release during surgery and other conditions of stress. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 35, 840 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman, N., Turter, Aa. R.: Radioimmunoassay studies with human growth hormone and a pituitary lipid mobilizing factor. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 58, 318–338 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Opstad, P. K., Ekanger, R., Nummestad, M., Raabe, N.: Performance, mood and clinical symptoms in humans exposed to prolonged physical work and sleepdeprivation. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health (Submitted) (1977)

  • Rubin, R. T., Gouin, P. R., Lubin, A., Poland, R. E., Pirke, K. M.: Nocturnal increase of plasma testosterone in men: Relation to gonadotropins and prolactin. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 40, 1027–1033 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutlin, E., Haug, E., Torjesen, P. A.: Serum thyrotrophin, prolactin and growth hormone, response to TRH during oestrogen treatment. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 84, 23–35 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sand, T., Torjesen, P. A.: Dextran-coated charcoal used in the radioimmunoassay of human pituitary luteinizing hormone. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 73, 444–454 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sowers, J. R., Raj, R. P., Hershman, J. M., Carlson, H. E., McCallum, R. W.: The effect of stressful diagnostic studies and surgery on anterior pituitary hormone release in man. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 86, 25–32 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spitz, I. M., Landau, H., Almaliach, U., Rosen, E., Brautbar, N., Russel, A.: Diminished prolactin reserve: A case report. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 45, 412 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Terjung, R. L., Tipton, C. M.: Plasma thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels during submaximal exercise in humans. Am. J. Physiol. 220, 1840–1845 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Torjesen, P. A., Haug, E., Sand, T.: Effect of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone on serum levels of pituitary hormones in men and women. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 73, 455–464 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Torjesen, P. A., Sand, T., Norman, N., Trygstad, O., Foss, I.: Isolation of LH, FSH and TSH from human pituitaries after the removal of HGH. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 77, 485–497 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaitukaitis, J., Robbins, J. B., Nieschlag, E., Ross, G. T.: A method for producing specific antisera with small doses immunogen. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 33, 988–991 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This study represents a part of a research programme by the Stress Research Group of the Norwegian Joint Medical Services

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aakvaag, A., Sand, T., Opstad, P.K. et al. Hormonal changes in serum in young men during prolonged physical strain. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 39, 283–291 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421452

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421452

Key words

Navigation