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  • Androgenes et Sport
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Effets de l’activité sportive sur les androgènes endogènes

Effects of physical activity on endogenous androgens

Andrologie volume 5, pages 332–339 (1995)Cite this article

Resume

L’activité physique intense lorsqu’elle n’est pas épuisante ou excessivement prolongée (en moyenne moins de 2 heures) s’accompagne d’une élévation de la testostéronémie d’environ 50% mesurable dès la 10ème ou 30ème minute suivie d’un retour aux valeurs basales dans les 2 heures qui suivent la cessation de l’effort. En revanche les efforts trop intenses, trop prolongés (en moyenne plus de 3 heures) ou trop répétitifs s’accompagnent d’une diminution d’environ 50% de la testostéronémie. Cette baisse est alors comparable à celle qu’on observe au cours des corticothérapies, ou des circonstances de stress incluant l’anesthésie chirurgicale ou différentes affections aiguës ou chroniques.

Les mécanismes d’élévation de la sécrétion testiculaire sont sous l’influence de la LH mais correspondent plus volontiers à des phénomènes vasculaires incluant une augmentation de la perfusion du testicule et/ou à une réduction de la clearance hépatique. Les mécanismes de baisse secondaire impliquent un effet du cortisol sur les récepteurs Leydigiens de la LH, puis un impact sur la sécrétion hypophysaire de LH qui ne répond plus à baisse de la testostéronémie. Les sportifs qui ont une activité physique harmonieusement programmée ont en moyenne une testostéronémie plus élevée que les sujets sédentaires de même âge. Ceux dont la cadence d’entraînement et de compétition est excessive sont exposés à des périodes prolongées d’hypogonadisme, comparables à celles récemment observées chez les athlètes féminines.

Abstract

Heavy physical activity, below exhaustion and with a mean duration of less than 2 hours, induces an approximately 50% increase in testosterone serum levels within 10 to 30 minutes. Testosterone drop to baseline levels within 2 hours after cessation of physical activity. However when efforts are too heavy, with too much duration (more than 3 hours) or repetition, a mean 50% decrease in testosterone serum levels is observed. A similar drop is also observed during corticoid treatment or heavy stress such as surgical general anesthesia or acute or chroric diseases.

The initial rise in testosterone is too fast to be explained by an increased stimulation of testicle by LH. A more likely explanation is a vascular change leading to an increased testicular blood stream and a decrease in liver clearance. The secondary drop in testosterone serum levels is likely related to cortisol effect on LH receptors of the Leydig cells and also on LH pulses.

Men regularly practising a well scheduled physical activity have mean testosterone levels higher than men of the same age not involved in sport. Men exposed too frequently to exhausting physical activity may experience prolonged phase of hypogonadism similar to those observed recently in female athletes.

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  1. Service d’Endocrinologie et Médecine de la Reproduction, Hôpital Necker, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75015, Paris

    B. De Lignieres

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De Lignieres, B. Effets de l’activité sportive sur les androgènes endogènes. Androl. 5, 332–339 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03034338

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Basic and Clinical Andrology

ISSN: 2051-4190