Running elevates plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity and ACTH in untrained human subjects. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1981 Oct;168(1):1-4
Date
10/01/1981Pubmed ID
6275394DOI
10.3181/00379727-168-41225Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0019821473 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 85 CitationsAbstract
Twenty minutes of submaximal treadmill running was associated with an elevation in plasma levels of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity (P less than 0.02). This increase was greater in men (14.9 +/- 3.4 fmole/ml) than women (2.6 +/- 1.2 fmole/ml)(P less than 0.05). Plasma levels of ACTH and growth hormone also increased after running. ACTH increased more in men (7.8 +/- 1.1 fmole/ml) than in women (1.1 +/-0.44 fmole/ml)(P less than 0.02). There was a similar growth hormone response in both sexes. No correlation can at this time be made with levels in the central nervous system. Changes in plasma levels of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity may be responsible for some of the euphoria and analgesia anecdotally associated with running.
Author List
Gambert SR, Garthwaite TL, Pontzer CH, Cook EE, Tristani FE, Duthie EH, Martinson DR, Hagen TC, McCarty DJAuthor
Edmund H. Duthie MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Adrenocorticotropic HormoneAdult
Endorphins
Female
Growth Hormone
Humans
Male
Physical Exertion
Running
beta-Endorphin