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

Pituitary, adrenal and testicular hormones and steroid-binding proteins were analysed in 15 active ice hockey players and in 16 spectators, matched for physical fitness, during a 26-h cup tournament including three matches. Diurnal variations were noted for all compounds except FSH and SHBG. The levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), 4-androstene-3, 17-dione (A-4) and prolactin increased in players but not in spectators following the matches played in the afternoons, but not following the match played in the morning. Albumin and DHA sulphate (DHAS) levels increased in players following all three matches and SHBG levels increased slightly in players following the afternoon matches, all probably due to haemoconcentration. DHAS and albumin showed simultaneous diurnal variations with a nadir in the morning. 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and total and non-SHBG-bound testosterone showed similar diurnal patterns in spectators, with maximum levels in the morning. Levels of 17-OHP were largely unaffected by physical stress, while the morning maximum for total and non-SHBG-bound testosterone was completely abolished in players. Minor or insignificant changes were noted for LH and FSH. While the changes in unconjugated adrenal steroids (cortisol, DHA and A-4) reflect changes in acute ACTH stimulation, changes in albumin binding may be more important for the short-term variations in levels of DHAS. The influence of physical stress upon the pattern of testosterone may be mediated mainly by inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis by elevated cortisol and/or prolactin levels, rather than by decreased gonadotrophic stimulation or by alterations in binding to SHBG.