Frontiers in Physiology (Jun 2020)

Resistance Exercise in a Hot Environment Alters Serum Markers in Untrained Males

  • Arezoo Eskandari,
  • Mohamad Fashi,
  • Ayoub Saeidi,
  • Daniel Boullosa,
  • Daniel Boullosa,
  • Ismail Laher,
  • Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman,
  • Gerorges Jabbour,
  • Hassane Zouhal

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00597
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Purpose: We examined the effects of moderate resistance exercise (RE) on serum cortisol, testosterone, extracellular heat shock protein (HSP70), and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-15 concentrations in untrained males in a hot environment.Methods: Ten untrained young males (26 ± 3 years; 75.8 ± 6 kg; 177.4 ± 5.3 cm) performed two series of full body RE [3 sets of 8 to 10 repetitions, 30–60 s recovery between series with 70% of one maximal repetition (1-RM), with a rest period of 1 to 3 min between exercises] carried out in a random order in both heated (∼35°C) and thermoneutral (22°C) conditions. Serum concentrations of testosterone, cortisol, HSP70, and IL-6 and IL-15 were measured before, at the end, and 1 h after RE sessions. Participants in both groups consumed 4 ml of water/kg body mass every 15 min.Results: There were time-related changes in testosterone, HSP70, and IL-6 (P < 0.001), and cortisol and IL-15 (P < 0.05). Levels of cortisol, HSP70, and IL-6 increased immediately for RE at 35°C, and testosterone and IL-15 levels were decreased. Changes in serum testosterone, HSP70, cortisol, and IL-15 and IL-6 levels were reversed after 1 h. A significant time × condition interaction was observed for IL-15 and HSP70 (P < 0.001), cortisol and IL-6 (P < 0.05), but not for testosterone (P > 0.05).Conclusion: RE in a heated environment may not be appropriate for achieving muscle adaptations due to acute changes of hormonal and inflammatory markers.

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