Influence of exercise on dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and delta 4-androstenedione plasma levels in man.

To study the involvement of adrenal cortex in prolonged physical exercise, we measured plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), delta 4-androstenedione (delta 4-A) and cortisol (C) levels in 20 moderately trained men one hour before and 5-10 min after one-hour-swimming. Mean plasma DHEAS and delta 4-A pre-exercise levels increased significantly with respect to post-exercise levels. Cortisol levels moderately increased, but showed no significant modifications after the exercise. These results suggest that in this physical exercise there is an independent activation of the cortical zona reticularis as to that of the zona fasciculata.