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.
Recommended Citation
Luk, Hui Ying, "Growth Hormone Reduction in Men and Women" (2013). Master's Theses. 414.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/gs_theses/414
Major Advisor
Dr. William J. Kreamer