Prolactin responses to stress induced by a competitive swimming effort.
Journal Title: Biology of Sport - Year 2007, Vol 24, Issue 4
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in prolactin (PRL) plasma concentrations induced by competitive swimming practice. Methods: Twenty-three males, 13 trained swimmers (experimental group) and 10 sedentary and healthy students (age-matched control group) took part in this investigation. The swimmers were assessed at three points: basal conditions, pre- and post-swimming competition (100 m freestyle), whereas subjects from the control group only undertook the basal trial. The variables analysed were: several body composition measures, anxiety level (STAI questionnaire), PRL and lactic acid concentrations. Results: No statistical differences were observed in PRL basal levels between groups. An evident PRL response to pre-competition psychological stress was observed in the experimental group, since the PRL plasma concentration rose from 4.02±0.53 ng/ml (basal conditions) to 5.52±0.53 ng/ml (p≤0.05). The PRL response to the competitive effort produced an important increase in its plasma concentration (10.07±1.59 ng/ml), showed statistical differences from pre-competition (p≤0.01) and from basal conditions (p≤0.001). A significant rise in plasma lactate levels just at the end of the effort was found, although it did not correlate with PRL levels in the same situation. Conclusion: While we observed a remarkable response of PRL to psychological and physiological stress induced by a short term competitive effort in swimming, no changes in PRL basal levels were exhibited with swim training. More research is needed to clarify these findings.
Authors and Affiliations
LC Páez, GT Luque, CV Gutiérrez, CM Oltras
Keywords
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