Influence of gender, menstrual phase, and oral contraceptive use on immunological changes in response to prolonged cycling

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 99; no. 3; pp. 979 - 985
• Main Authors: Timmons, Brian W, Hamadeh, Mazen J, Devries, Michaela C, Tarnopolsky, Mark A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.09.2005; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Adult; Bicycling; Bicycling - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Changes; Contraceptives, Oral - administration & dosage; Exercise Test; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gender; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hormonal contraception; Humans; Immunobiology; Immunology; Influence; Male; Medical sciences; Menstrual Cycle - drug effects; Menstrual Cycle - immunology; Menstruation; Modulation of the immune response (stimulation, suppression); Physical Endurance - drug effects; Physical Endurance - immunology; Sex Factors; Physical exercise; Human; lymphocytes; Cyclism; Immunomodulation; Cytokine; Sex; Oral administration; interleukin-6; Interleukin 6; Sport; Female; Contraceptive; Lymphocyte; Prolonged; Immune system
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00171.2005
• ISSN: 8750-7587

1 Children's Exercise and Nutrition Centre and 2 Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Submitted 10 February 2005 ; accepted in final form 4 May 2005 This study determined the influence of gender, menstrual phase (MP), and oral contraceptive (OC) use on immunological changes in response to endurance exercise. Twelve women and 11 men similar in age, aerobic power, and activity level cycled for 90 min at 65% maximal aerobic power. Women were OC users ( n = 6) or nonusers (NOC) and cycled during the follicular (Fol) and the luteal (Lut) phases. Venous blood was collected before and after exercise to determine leukocyte counts, IL-6 concentrations, and cortisol. Higher resting levels of neutrophils ( 1.5-fold) and cortisol ( 2.5-fold) were found in OC vs. NOC and men. Exercise-induced immune cell count and IL-6 changes were similar between men and NOC, except for an 38% greater lymphocyte response in NOC vs. men ( P = 0.07). Neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte responses to exercise during Lut in OC were greater than during Fol and also greater than the responses in men ( P 0.003). Changes in immune cell counts were consistently greater during Lut in OC vs. NOC, regardless of MP, but only neutrophil responses reached statistical significance ( P = 0.01). The exercise-induced change in IL-6 was 80% greater in NOC vs. OC during Fol ( P = 0.06), but it was similar between these groups during Lut. Cortisol changes with exercise were not different between groups or MP. These results highlight the necessity to control for gender, and in particular OC use, when designing studies evaluating exercise and immunology. interleukin-6; lymphocytes Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. A. Tarnopolsky, Rm. 4U4, Depts. of Pediatrics and Medicine, McMaster Univ. Medical Center, 1200 Main St., West Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5 (e-mail: tarnopol{at}mcmaster.ca )