Abstract
Research indicates that endurance exercise training has significant effects upon the reproductive endocrine system of humans. Until recently, this effect was thought to be limited primarily to women. However, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that the male reproductive endocrine system is also effected. Specifically, the circulating hormonal levels of testosterone are found to be at low concentrations and, the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis that regulates testosterone production is altered in endurance trained men. The physiological mechanism inducing the lower testosterone is currently unclear but in many respects, these men display hypogonadotropic hypogonadism characteristics. Currently, the time course of the changes in the reproductive endocrine system is unresolved and in need of much furthers scientific investigation. The evidence available, however, suggests that a slowly developing process requiring years of exercise training results in these changes. Potentially, the lowered testosterone levels of the endurance-trained male could disrupt some of their anabolic or androgenic dependent processes. To date, there are only a limited number of findings suggesting that a consistent disruption of testosterone dependent processes occur due to endurance exercise training (e.g., oligo-spermatogenesis). Conversely, the alterations in testosterone concentration brought about by endurance training could have cardiovascular protective effects and thus be beneficial to the health of these men.
Keywords: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis, Oligo-spermatogenesis, Over training syndrome
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Endurance Exercise Training and Reproductive Endocrine Dysfunction in Men Alterations in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis
Volume: 7 Issue: 4
Author(s): A. C. Hackney
Affiliation:
Keywords: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis, Oligo-spermatogenesis, Over training syndrome
Abstract: Research indicates that endurance exercise training has significant effects upon the reproductive endocrine system of humans. Until recently, this effect was thought to be limited primarily to women. However, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that the male reproductive endocrine system is also effected. Specifically, the circulating hormonal levels of testosterone are found to be at low concentrations and, the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis that regulates testosterone production is altered in endurance trained men. The physiological mechanism inducing the lower testosterone is currently unclear but in many respects, these men display hypogonadotropic hypogonadism characteristics. Currently, the time course of the changes in the reproductive endocrine system is unresolved and in need of much furthers scientific investigation. The evidence available, however, suggests that a slowly developing process requiring years of exercise training results in these changes. Potentially, the lowered testosterone levels of the endurance-trained male could disrupt some of their anabolic or androgenic dependent processes. To date, there are only a limited number of findings suggesting that a consistent disruption of testosterone dependent processes occur due to endurance exercise training (e.g., oligo-spermatogenesis). Conversely, the alterations in testosterone concentration brought about by endurance training could have cardiovascular protective effects and thus be beneficial to the health of these men.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Hackney C. A., Endurance Exercise Training and Reproductive Endocrine Dysfunction in Men Alterations in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2001; 7 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612013398103
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612013398103 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Levosimendan: A Novel Agent in Heart Failure
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery New Technologies for the Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea
Current Hypertension Reviews Multiple Drug Targets in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes
Current Drug Targets Hypothyroidism and Cardiovascular Disease: Factors, Mechanism and Future Perspectives
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cardiovascular Complications of Obesity
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Importance of Oral Health in Pregnancy: A Mini-symposium
Current Women`s Health Reviews Protein Engineering: A New Frontier for Biological Therapeutics
Current Drug Metabolism Hypothesis-Driven Medication Discovery for the Treatment of Psychostimulant Addiction
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Possible Role of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in Adipogenesis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pregnancy, Physical Activity, Functional Capacity and Adaptations to Exercise
Current Women`s Health Reviews Controlled Release Inhalable Polymeric Microspheres for Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design MicroRNA-34 Family, Mechanisms of Action in Cancer: A Review
Current Cancer Drug Targets Editorial: [Hot Topic: Recent Developments in Biomarker Patenting for AKI]
Recent Patents on Biomarkers Substrates and Inhibitors of Human Multidrug Resistance Associated Proteins and the Implications in Drug Development
Current Medicinal Chemistry Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Failure: Challenges and Solutions
Current Cardiology Reviews Disruption of Circadian Rhythms and Sleep on Critical Illness and the Impact on Cardiovascular Events
Current Pharmaceutical Design Arterial Hyperoxia in Severe Head Injury: A Useful or Harmful Option?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Surgical Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Research Advancements in Porcine Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Cytochrome P450 and the Biological Clock in Mammals
Current Drug Metabolism