The Effects of Biological Sex and Ovarian Hormones on Exercise-Induced Neuroplasticity

Publication date: Available online 8 May 2019Source: NeuroscienceAuthor(s): Jenin El-Sayes, Claudia V. Turco, Lauren E. Skelly, Chiara Nicolini, Margaret Fahnestock, Martin J. Gibala, Aimee J. NelsonAbstractAcute aerobic exercise induces short-term neuroplasticity, although it remains unknown whether biological sex and ovarian hormones influence this response. The present study investigated the effects of biological sex and ovarian hormones on short-term neuroplasticity induced by acute aerobic exercise. Young active adults (n = 17 males and n = 17 females; 21 ± 2 years) participated in two sessions in which TMS measures were acquired immediately before and after a 20-min bout of moderate-intensity cycling at 65–70% of maximal heart rate. Females were tested in the follicular (~ day 7) and luteal (~ day 21) phases of the menstrual cycle. Males were tested on two sessions separated by ~ 14 days. Measures of motor-evoked potential (MEP) recruitment curves and short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) were obtained using Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were measured in venous blood samples obtained prior to exercise. MEP recruitment curves increased and SICI decreased after exercise in both sexes, regardless of menstrual cycle phase. BDNF and IGF-1 were not different between sexes or across the menstrual cycle. ...
Source: Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research