Summary
Plasma renin activity (PRA), serum aldosterone and the serum and urinary levels of sodium and potassium have been investigated in 24 young men participating in a 5-day military training course with heavy continuous physical exercise, energy and sleep deprivation. The subjects were divided into three groups. Group 1 did not get any extra sleep or food, group 2 were compensated for the energy deficiency, and group 3 slept 3 h each night. The basic diet given to all the subjects was about 5,000 kJ and 2 g NaCl·24 h−1·cadet−1. The high calorie diet contained approximately 25,000–35,000 kJ and 20 g of NaCl·24 h−1·cadet−1.
The study showed that serum aldosterone and PRA were extremely activated during such prolonged physical strain combined with lack of food and salt, whereas sleep deprivation did not seem to have any large influence. Only small variations were found in the serum levels of sodium and potassium and the urinary level of potassium during the course, whereas a decrease was seen in urinary sodium concentration. The fairly good correlations between the decrease in urinary sodium levels and the increase in PRA (r=0.7) and further between PRA and serum aldosterone (r=0.8) during the course indicate that there is a causal connection between the decrease in urinary sodium excretion and the increase in PRA and serum aldosterone. An increased response was seen during a short term exercise test in groups 1 and 3, whereas no such increase was seen in the subjects of group 2, probably because the higher salt intake abolishes the renin-aldosterone response to exercise. In spite of high catecholamine levels during the course, the serum potassium response to physical exercise was unchanged. The circulating catecholamines did not seem to have any significance for renin secretion and sodium reabsorption during the course. Further, there was no sign of exhaustion in Na/K homeostasis during the experiment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aakvaag A, Bentdal Ø, Quigstad K, Walstad P, RØnningen H, Fonnum F (1978) Testosterone and testosterone binding glubulin (TeBG) in young men during prolonged stress. Int J Androl 1: 1–11
Adlercreutz H, HÄrkönen M, Kuoppasalmi K, Kosunen K, NÄveri H, Rehunen S (1976) Physical activity and hormones. Adv Cardiol 18: 144–157
Aurell M, Vikgren P (1971) Plasma renin activity in supine muscular exercise. J Appl Physiol 31: 839–841
Bailey ER, Bartos D, Bartos F, Castro A, Dobson RL, Grette DP, Kramer R, MacFarlane D, Sato K (1972) Activation of aldosterone and renin secretion by thermal stress. Experientia 28: 159–160
Bello-Reuss E, Trevino DL, Gottschalk CW (1976) Effect of renal sympathetic nerve stimulation on proximal water and sodium reabsorption. J Clin Invest 57: 1104–1107
Bozović L, Castenfors J (1967) Effect of Dihydralazine on plasma renin activity and renal function during supine exercise in normal subjects. Acta Physiol Scand 70: 281–289
BØrresen HC, RØrvik S, Guldvog I, Aakvaag A (1982) Angiotensin II and renal excretion of sodium and potassium in unanaesthetized dogs. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 42: 87–92
Carlson E, Fellenius E, Lundborg P, Svensson (1978) Adrenoceptor blockers, plasma-potassium and exercise. Lancet 19: 424–425
Castenfors J (1967) Renal function during exercise. Acta Physiol Scand [Suppl] 70: 293
Clamage DM, Vander AJ, Mouw DR (1977) Psychosocial stimuli and human plasma renin activity. Psychosom Med 39: 393–401
Costill DL, Branam G, Fink W, Nelson R (1976) Exercise induced sodium conservations: changes in plasma renin and aldosterone. Med Sci Sports 8: 209–213
Dumoulin G, Bopp J, Nguyen NU, Berthelay S (1982) Effets de l'apport hydrique sur les variations de l'activitié rénine plasmatique (ARP) et de l'aldosteronémie au cours de l'exercise physique chez l'Homme. CR Soc Biol 173: 871–874
Engquist EN, Blichert-Toft M, Ølgaard K, Brandt MR, Kehlet H (1978) Inhibition of aldosterone response to surgery by saline administration. Br J Surg 65: 224–227
Erlich EN (1979) Adrenocortical regulation of salt and water metabolism: Physiology, patophysiology and clinical syndromes. In: DeGroot LJ, Cahill GF, Odell WD, Martini L, Potts JT, Nelson DH, Steinberger E, Winegrad AI (eds) Endocrinology. Grune & Stratton, New York
Espiner EA, Lun S, Hart DS (1978) Role of ACTH, angiotensin and potassium in stress-induced aldosterone secretion. J Ster Biochem 9: 109–113
Francis KT, MacGregor III R (1978) Effect of exercise in the heat on plasma renin and aldosterone with either water or a potassium rich electrolyte solution. Aviat Space Environ Med 49: 461–465
Johnson MD (1982) Plasma renin activity during infusion of epinephrine into carotid and vertebral arteries of anesthethized dogs. Endocrinology 111: 947–952
Johnson MD, Clifford Barger A (1981) Circulating catecholamines in control of renal electrolyte and water excretion. Am J Physiol 240: F192-F199
Johnson MD, Shier DN, Clifford Barger A (1979) Circulating catecholamines and control of plasma renin activity in conscious dogs. Am J Physiol 236: H463-H470
Kosunen KJ, Pakarinen AJ, Kuoppasalmi K, Adlercreutz H (1976) Plasma renin activity, angiotensin II and aldosterone during intense heat stress. J Appl Physiol 41: 323–327, 41: 26–29
Kotchen TA, Hartley LH, Rice TW, Mougey EH, Jones LRG, Mason JHW (1971) Renin, norepinephrine and epinephrine response to graded exercise. J Appl Physiol 31: 178–184
Leenen FHH, Boer P, Geyskes GG (1978) Sodium intake and the effects of isoprolerenol and exercise on plasma renin in man. J Appl Physiol 45: 870–874
Opstad PK, Aakvaag A, Rognum TO (1980) Altered hormonal response to short-term bicycle exercise in young men after prolonged physical strain, caloric deficit and sleep deprivation. Eur J Appl Physiol 45: 51–52
Rognum TO, Vaage D, HØstmark A, Opstad PK (1981) Metabolic responses to bicycle exercise after several days of physical work and energy deficiency. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 41: 565–571
Schrier RW (1979) Effects of adrenergic nervous system and catecholamines on systemic and renal hemodynamics, sodium and water excretion and renin secretion. Kidney Int 6: 291–306
Sternheim W, Dalakos TG, Streeten DHP, Fox L, Speller PJ (1982) Action of L-epinephrine on the renal-aldosterone system and on urinary electrolyte excretion in man. Metabolisms 31: 979–984
Sundsfjord JA, StrØmme SB, Aakvaag A (1975) Plasma aldosterone (PA), plasma renin activity (PRL) and cortisol (PF) during exercise. Res Steroids 6: 133–140
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Opstad, P.K., Øktedalen, O., Aakvaag, A. et al. Plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone during prolonged physical strain. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 54, 1–6 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426289
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426289