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This Article Accepted manuscript (PDF) All Versions of this Article: JOE-08-0477v1 200/3/259    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Safarinejad, M. R. Articles by Azma, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Safarinejad, M. R. Articles by Azma, K.

M Safarinejad, Iran, Islamic Republic of
A Kolahi, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
K Azma, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

Correspondence: Mohammad Reza Safarinejad, Email: safarinejad{at}urologist.md

Abstract

Effects of intensive exercise on hypothalamus-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis remain controversial. Our aim was to determine the effects of intensive, long-term treadmill running on reproductive hormones, HPT axis, and semen quality. A total of 286 subjects were randomly assigned to moderate-intensity exercise [~ 60% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max); group 1, n=143], and high-intensity exercise (~ 80% VO2 max, group 2; n=143) groups. The two groups exercised for 60 weeks in five sessions per week, each session lasting 120 min. This was followed by a 36-week low-intensity exercise recovery period. All subjects underwent routine semen analysis. Blood samples were drawn for the determination of the levels of the following hormones: luteinizing-hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT) inhibin B, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). The HPT axis was assessed using gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) tests. After 24 weeks of exercise, subjects exercising with high-intensity demonstrated significantly declined semen parameters compared those exercising with moderate-intensity (P=0.03). Serum T, and fT, were begun to decrease, and serum SHBG, was begun to increase at the end of 12-week with both moderate and high-intensity exercises. The serum LH, and FSH concentrations decreased below the baseline level at 12-week in both groups (P=0.07 in group 1, and P=0.03 in group 2). Both groups had blunted LH and FSH responses to GnRH. These parameters improved to their pre-exercise level during the recovery period. Long-term strenuous treadmill exercises (overtraining syndrome) have a deleterious effect on reproduction.