Hormone levels in male ice hockey players during the night after a 26-hour cup tournament.

Pituitary hormones, adrenal and testicular steroids and steroid-binding proteins were analysed in 4 active ice hockey players and in 3 spectators, matched for physical fitness, during the night after a 26-hour cup tournament. The examined period included the last match of three matches. Unconjugated adrenal steroids (cortisol, 4-androstene-3,17-dione [A-4] and dehydroepiandrosterone [DHA]) and prolactin were increased in players immediately following the match, but were normalized within 3-4 h. After that similar nocturnal patterns were observed in players and spectators. The time-courses for DHA sulphate, albumin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were identical in players and spectators. Serum testosterone (T), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and LH levels had time-courses with a nadir between 20.00 and 24.00 h and maximum values in the morning; however, this pattern was less pronounced in players. The results illustrate the rapid normalization of adrenocortical activity after physical stress and further support the view that interference with pituitary LH secretion may be the main mechanism responsible for the observed changes in testicular steroids.