Influence of menstrual cycle phase on catecholamine response to sprint exercise in the woman

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to verify the menstrual cycle phase influence on catecholamine concentrations (adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA)), peak power (Ppic), and peak lactatemia (Lapic) in response to a 6 s sprint exercise on a cycle ergometer in eight untrained women (19.1 ± 0.9 years, 167.7 ± 5.4 cm, 59.5 ± 4.7 kg). All women realize the 6 s sprint test in the morning, within the same menstrual cycle, in the follicular (PF) and the luteal phase (PL). Plasma catecholamine concentrations were determined at rest (A0 and NA0), immediately at the end of the sprint exercise (AEX and NAEX), and after 5 min of recovery (A5 and NA5). Ppic and Lapic were not significantly affected by the menstrual cycle phase. Catecholamine concentrations measured at rest, in response to the 6 s sprint test and after 5 min of recovery were not significantly different in PF and PL. Significant relationships were observed between AEX and Lapic (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) and between AEX and Ppic (r = 0.70, p < 0.01). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the menstrual cycle phase did not alter performance, lactatemia, and sympatho-adrenergic responses to a short sprint exercise in untrained women. Lobjectif de cette étude est de vérifier si la phase du cycle menstruel influence les réponses en catécholamines (adrénaline (A) et noradrénaline (NA)) ainsi que les puissances pic (Ppic) et la lactatémie pic (Lapic) à lissue dun exercice de sprint de 6 s sur ergocycle chez huit femmes non entraînées (19,1 ± 0,9 ans, 167,7 ± 5,4 cm, 59,5 ± 4,7 kg). Lexercice est réalisé le matin, lors du même cycle menstruel, en phase folliculaire (PF) puis en phase lutéale (PL). Les concentrations plasmatiques en A et NA sont mesurées au repos (A0 et NA0), à la fin de lexercice de sprint de 6 s (AEX et NAEX) et après 5 min de récupération (A5 et NA5). Ppic ainsi que Lapic ne diffèrent pas statistiquement entre PF et PL. Les concentrations en A et en NA mesurées au repos, à larrêt du test de spr.