Effect of age and combined sprint and strength training on plasma catecholamine responses to a Wingate-test

The purpose of this research is to study the effects of aging and combined training (sprint and strength) on catecholamine responses [adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA)]. Thirty-two male subjects voluntarily participated in this study. They were randomly divided into four groups: A young trained group (age 21.4 +/- A 1.2 years, YT, n = 8), a young control group (age 21.9 +/- A 1.9 years, YC, n = 8), a middle-aged trained group (age 40.8 +/- A 2.8 years, AT, n = 8) and a middle-aged control group (age 40.4 +/- A 2.0 years, AC, n = 8). YT and AT participated in a high intensity sprint and strength training program (HISST) for 13 weeks. All the participants realized the Wingate-test before (P1) and after (P2) HISST. Plasma A and NA concentrations were determined at rest (A (0), NA(0)) and at the end of exercise (A (max), NA(max)). At P1, a significant difference (p < 0.05) in terms of age was observed for NA(0) and A (0) between YT and AT and between control groups YC and AC. This age effect disappeared after training when compared YT and AT. After HISST, A (max) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in YT and AT (from 3.08 +/- A 0.17 to 3.23 +/- A 0.34 nmol l(-1) in YT and from 3.23 +/- A 0.52 to 4.59 +/- A 0.10 nmol l(-1) in AT). However, NA(max) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in AT only (from 3.34 +/- A 0.31 to 3.75 +/- A 0.60 nmol l(-1)). A (max) was highly increased in AT compared to YT (4.59 +/- A 0.10 vs. 3.23 +/- A 0.34 nmol l(-1)), respectively. The combined training (sprint and strength) appeared to reduce the age effect of the catecholamine response both at rest and in response to exercise.