Abstract

Resistance training is a potent stimulus for muscle growth, and steroid hormones are known to play a role in this adaptation. However, very little is known about the acute exercise‐induced gonadosteroid and corticosteroid hormone responses, including those of key lower‐concentration intermediate hormones. The present study determined the acute responses of these steroid hormone families using quantitative ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry after resistance exercise in strength‐trained men. Venous and fingertip blood samples were obtained pre‐, mid‐, 5 min post‐ and 15 min post‐resistance exercise, both before and after 10 weeks of supervised resistance training. The experimental resistance exercise sessions consisted of three sets of 10 repetitions of bilateral leg‐press exercise and three sets of 10 repetitions of unilateral knee‐extension exercise, with 2 and 1 min recovery between sets, respectively. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) increases in the concentration of hormones in the gonadosteroid [including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, testosterone and estrone] and the corticosteroid (including cortisol, corticosterone and cortisone) families were demonstrated after both experimental resistance exercise sessions, irrespective of training status. Correlation analyses revealed relationships between the following hormones: (i) DHEA and androstenedione; (ii) DHEA and cortisol; (iii) androstenedione and estrone; and (iv) 11‐deoxycortisol and cortisol. Testosterone appears to increase acutely and independently of other intermediary hormones after resistance exercise. In conclusion, lower‐concentration intermediary gonadosteroids (e.g. estrone) and corticosteroids (e.g. corticosterone) respond robustly to resistance exercise in strength‐trained men, although it seems that testosterone concentrations are regulated by factors other than the availability of precursor hormones and changes in plasma volume.