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Int J Sports Med 2001; 22(2): 103-110
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-11365
Physiology and Biochemistry

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Acute Effect of Physical Exercise on Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 2 and 3 in Healthy Men: Role of Exercise-Linked Growth Hormone Secretion

L. Di Luigi1 ,  L. Guidetti1 ,  M. Nordio2 ,  C. Baldari1 ,  F. Romanelli2
  • 1 Laboratory of Endocrine Research, Endocrinology Unit, University Institute of Motor Sciences, Rome, Italy
  • 2 Division of Andrology, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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The purpose of this study was to delineate the role of GH on serum IGF-I, IGFBP-2 and -3 responses to exercise. Hormones were evaluated in six trained male subjects before (- 30, - 15, 0), during (+ 15) and after (+ 30, + 45, + 60, + 90 min) a thirty-minutes treadmill exercise (60 % V˙O2max), both after a single administration of a somatostatin analog (i.e., octreotide, 0.1 mg sc) and after saline. The same evaluations were performed without exercise with similar treatments. The results showed that: 1) octreotide significantly inhibited the GH response to exercise, 2) exercise increased IGFBP-3 concentration (+ 37.4 % at + 90, p < 0.05), whereas no modification of IGFBP-2 and of IGF-I/IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3/IGFBP-2 ratios were observed, 3) octreotide amplified the IGFBP-3 increase after exercise (p < 0.01 vs. exercise, from + 30 to + 60, or octreotide alone) and, without exercise, slightly increased IGFBP-3 (+ 15 % at + 75, p < 0.05) and decreased IGF-I (- 14.8 % at + 75, p < 0.01).

We concluded that GH has a reduced role, as a stimulating factor, in the serum acute IGFBP-3 increase after exercise and that octreotide is probably able to directly amplify this response. Unfortunately, we can only speculate on the physiological pathways involved.

Key words:

GH, IGF-I, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, octreotide, physical exercise.

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Prof. L. Di Luigi, M.D.

Laboratory of Endocrine ResearchUniversity Institute of Motor Sciences/IUSM

Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 1500194 RomeItaly

Phone: Phone:+ 39 06 36095543

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Email: E-mail:iusm.endocrinol@uni.net