The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aging and training on the
adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) responses during the Wingate-test in three age
groups of subjects: 21 year old untrained subjects (21U), 21 year old endurance trained
(21T) (national elite runners), 34 year old) endurance trained (34T) (national elite
runners). Performances during the test were judged using the usual parameters of peak
power (Wmax) and mean power (W) expressed in absolute or relative values. A and NA responses
were measured at rest (A0 and NA0) immediately at the end of the exercise (Amax and
NAmax and after 5 minutes recovery (A0 and NA0). Plasma maximal lactate (Lamax) was determined 3 minutes after the end of the exercise. Wmax, W and Lamax were always significantly lower in 34T compared to 21T and 21U. The catecholamine
responses were similar in 21T and 21U. Inversely, a significantly lower value of Amax
was observed in 34T (2.01±0.5 nmol x l-1) compared to 21U (3.62±0.3 nmol x l-1) associated with a significantly higher value of NAmax in 34T versus 21T and 21U. Thus, the Amax/NAmax, ratio was found to be significantly lower in the older subjects versus both 21T
and 21U. All these findings indicated that endurance training did not affect the sympathoadrenergic
responses to a supramaximal exercise and suggested that only one decade may reduce
the capacity of the medulla to secrete adrenaline and therefore the adrenal medulla
responsiveness to the sympathetic nervous activity.
Key words
Wingate-test - catecholamines - endurance-training - aging