Date of Completion

5-11-2013

Embargo Period

5-13-2013

Advisors

Dr. Carl M. Maresh; Dr. Jeff S. Volek

Field of Study

Kinesiology

Degree

Master of Science

Open Access

Campus Access

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of acute heavy resistance exercise on the presence of circulating growth hormone (GH) aggregates concentration between men and women. Methods: Nineteen untrained subjects (M: n=9; F: n=10) who have not participated in a systematic, resistance program within 1 yr before participation were recruited. Blood samples were drawn before (Pre), immediately after exercise (IP), +15 minutes (+15), and +30 minutes (+30) into recovery. To determine whether the GH aggregate (disulfide-bond GH) was present, serum GH samples were chemically reduced by using glutathione (GSH), ELISA was used to measure the GH concentration in the reduced (+GSH) and non-reduced (-GSH) samples. Data was analyzed using sex (2) x treatment (2) x time points (4) repeated ANOVA. Results: Using glutathione (GSH) to reduce (+GSH) the plasma sample significantly (p < 0.05) increased the detectable GH concentration compared to non-reduced GH (-GSH) at Pre (0.37 μg.L-1 ±0.05 vs 0.31 μg.L-1 ±0.04), IP (0.89± 0.06μg.L-1 vs 0.78 ± 0.05 μg.L-1), +15 min (0.69 ± 0.05 μg.L-1 vs 0.59 ± 0.04 μg.L-1), and +30 min (0.47 ± 0.21 μg.L-1 vs 0.36 ± 0.15 μg.L-1). Also, women had a significantly higher -GSH and +GSH concentration compared to men. Conclusion: Acute heavy resistance exercise leads to the increase in disulfide-bond GH concentration in men and women. The physiological difference in disulfide-bond GH aggregate between men and women remains uncertain; nevertheless, sex hormones and the biochemical environment alteration after exercise may partially explain the sexual dimorphism on GH release.

Major Advisor

Dr. William J. Kreamer

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