No abstract

Blood cortisol, ACTH, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, reverse triiodothyronine, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and vasopressin concentrations were determined in 9 runners (29\p=n-\56 years old) and one 80year old man taking part in a non-competitive Marathon in Athens, Greece on October 1976. After the run the mean concentrations of cortisol, ACTH and vasopressin showed a significant rise. The thyroid function variables and TSH did not differ from the control values. There was a significant correlation between the cortisol and ACTH levels after the race and also between their increments from the corresponding base values. A significant correlation was found between the physical fitness (as measured by indirect determination of Vo2max) and the post-race cortisol levels. One of the well trained runners with a fairly good running time had the highest post-race values for 6 of 7 hormones studied.

Twelve patients with unipolar depressive disorders received 600 microgram of synthetic TRH or LRH, in a random order, for 3 days each. Placebo injections were given as two 3-day courses prior to and between the active treatments. Serum TSH, prolactin (Prl) and LH were measured by radioimmunoassays prior to the experiment as well as immediately before and 20 min after each injection. Serum T4 and T3 were determined by radioimmunoassays before the treatments and 24 h after the first two TRH injections. Serum T4 level in depressed patients did not differ from controls. Serum T3 level in depressed patients was significantly below, and the reverse T3 level was slightly above the normal mean. However, the latter difference was not statistically significant due to the large variation of rT3 levels among the depressed patients. The TSH responses did not differ from that of controls after the first injection but the responses after the second injection were lower than in a control study. The Prl responses to TRH were sub-normal in seven out of eight patients. Blunted LH responses to LRH were seen in three patients.