Reduced cortisol potentiates the exercise-induced increase in corticotropin to a greater extent in trained compared with untrained men.

We examined the effect of acute exercise and reduced cortisol on pituitary and adrenal responsiveness and the impact of reduced plasma cortisol on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in eight trained (T) and eight untrained (UT) males. Subjects completed two graded maximal exercise tests (GXT), each preceded by either overnight metyrapone (MET) or placebo (PLA) administration. Blood samples were collected before and after GXT. With PLA, resting corticotropin (ACTH) levels were higher in T versus UT men; however, cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol were similar between groups. Following GXT on PLA, cortisol was unchanged but 11-deoxycortisol increased in both groups; however, ACTH increased only in UT men. For both groups, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, and ACTH were different post-GXT with MET versus PLA. Furthermore, following GXT with MET, the ACTH response was greater in T versus UT subjects. VO2max was not altered by MET in either group. We conclude that (1) at rest, only ACTH levels differed between T and UT men; (2) individually, the GXT and MET provide a similar ACTH response in UT but not in T subjects; (3) when GXT and MET are superimposed, they provide a stronger stimulus to pituitary and adrenal reserve than either test alone; (4) the combination of MET and GXT elicits a greater ACTH response in T compared with UT men; and (5) an acute reduction in plasma cortisol does not alter VO2max.