pH Buffering Does not Influence BDNF Responses to Exercise

S. Rojas Vega; W. Hollmann; B. Vera Wahrmann; H. K. Strüder

doi:10.1055/s-0031-1285929

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2012; 33(01): 8-12
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1285929

Physiology & Biochemistry

pH Buffering Does not Influence BDNF Responses to Exercise

S. Rojas Vega

¹German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, Cologne, Germany

,

W. Hollmann

²German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, Cologne, Germany

,

B. Vera Wahrmann

³San Antonius Hospital, Cologne, Department of Anesthesiology, Cologne, Germany

,

H. K. Strüder

¹German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, Cologne, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The influence of acidosis on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was examined by buffering pH changes during 10 min of continuous low intensity (LIE) and following high intensity cycling exercise to exhaustion (HIE). 11 athletes participated in 2 trials separated by 1 week. Individuals received either a placebo infusion (isotonic saline) or an isotonic sodium bicarbonate infusion before and during exercise. Blood samples were drawn at rest, after LIE and after HIE, as well as 3, 6, 10 and 15 min post exercise. During placebo trial, HIE induced a profound decrease (p<0.01) of capillary blood bicarbonate concentration (HCO₃ˉ), pH, base excess (BE) and pCO₂. Higher (p<0.01) HCO₃ˉ, pH and BE were found during bicarbonate infusion and post exercise in comparison to the placebo trial. Exercise induced an identical increase of blood lactate concentration in both trials. Serum BDNF concentration was increased (p<0.01) at the end of HIE and remained elevated until 3 min post exercise in both trials. The present study suggests that during HIE lactate might have an acidosis-independed impact on BDNF secretion because buffering of blood gases, that attenuate the fall of pH but not the accumulation of lactic acid, failed to alter the exercise-induced increase of BDNF.

Key words

acidosis - alkalosis - brain-derived neurotrophic factor - high intensity exercise

Full Text

References

References
1 Beaver WL, Wasserman K, Whipp BJ. Bicarbonate buffering of lactic acid generated during exercise. J Appl Physiol 1986; 60: 472-478
2 Cotman CW, Berchtold NC. Exercise: A behavioral intervention to enhance brain health and plasticity. Trends Neurosci 2002; 25: 295-301
3 De Meirleir KL, Baeyens L, L’Hermite-Balériaux M, L’Hermite M, Hollmann W. Exercise-induced prolactin release is related to anaerobiosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 1985; 60: 1250-1252
4 Ferris LT, Williams JS, Shen CL. The effect of acute exercise on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and cognitive function. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007; 39: 728-734
5 Gold SM, Schulz KH, Hartmann S, Mladek M, Lang UE, Hellweg R, Reer R, Braumann KM, Heesen C. Basal serum levels and reactivity of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor to standardized acute exercise in multiple sclerosis and controls. J Neuroimmunol 2003; 138: 99-105
6 Gordon SE, Kraemer WJ, Vos NH, Lynch JM, Knuttgen HG. Effect of acid-base balance on the growth hormone response to acute high-intensity cycle exercise. J Appl Physiol 1994; 76: 821-829
7 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
8 Gustafsson G, Lira CM, Johansson J, Wisén A, Wohlfahrt B, Ekman R, Westrin A. The acute response to plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a result of exercise in major depression. Psychiat Res 2009; 169: 244-248
9 Immke DC, McCleskey EW. Protons open acid sensing ion channels by catalyzing relief of Ca²⁺ blockade. Neuron 2003; 37: 74-84
10 Issberner U, Reeh PW, Steen KH. Pain due to tissue acidosis: a mechanism for inflammatory and ischemic myalgia?. Neurosci Lett 1996; 208: 91-94
11 Kempermann G, Krebs J, Fabel K. The contribution of failing adult hippocampal neurogenesis to psychiatric disorders. Curr Opin Psychiat 2008; 21: 290-295
12 Knaepen K, Goekint M, Heyman EM, Meeusen RR. Neuroplasticity - exercise-induced response of peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Sports Med 2010; 40: 765-801
13 Laske C, Banschbach S, Stransky E, Bosch S, Straten G, Machann J, Fritsche A, Hipp A, Nitess A, Eschweiler GW. Exercise-induced normalization of decreased BDNF concentration in elderly women with remitted major depression. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2010; 13: 595-602
14 McMahon SB, Jones NG. Plasticity of pain signaling: role of neurotrophic factors exemplified by acid-induced pain. J Neurobiol 2004; 61: 72-87
15 Neeper SA, Gómez-Pinilla S, Choi J, Cotmann C. Exercise and brain neurotrophins. Nature 1995; 373: 109
16 Pezet S, Malcangio M, McMahon SB. BDNF: a neuromodulator in nociceptive pathways?. Brain Res Brain Rev 2002; 40: 240-249
17 Rojas Vega S, Strüder HK, Vera Wahrmann B, Schmidt A, Bloch W, Hollmann W. Acute brain derived neurotrophic factor and cortisol response to ramp incremental exercise to exhaustion in humans. Brain Res 2006; 1121: 59-65
18 Rojas Vega S, Abel Th, Bloch W, Hollmann W, Strüder HK. Impact of exercise on neuroplasticity-related proteins in spinal cord injured humans. Neuroscience 2008; 153: 1064-1070
19 Rojas Vega S, Kleinert J, Sulprizio M, Hollmann W, Bloch W, Strüder HK. Impact of exercise on serum concentrations of neurotrophic factors in pregnant and postpartum women. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2011; 36: 220-227
20 Schiffer T, Schulte H, Sperlich B, Achtzehn S, Friecke H, Strüder HK. Lactate infusion at rest increases BDNF blood concentration in humans. Neurosci Lett 2011; 488: 234-237
21 Schulz K, Gold SM, Witte J, Bartsch K, Lang UE, Hellweg R, Reer R, Braumann KM, Heesen C. Impact of aerobic training on immune-endocrine parameters, neurotrophic factors, quality of life and coordinative function in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci 2004; 225: 11-18
22 Shapiro BA, Peruzzi WT, Templi R (eds.) Determining Base Excess/Deficit. In: Clinical Applications of Blood Gases. Philadelphia: Mosby; 1994: 65-67
23 Ströhle A, Stoy M, Graetz B, Scheel M, Wittmann A, Gallinat J, Lang UE, Dimeo F, Hellweg R. Acute exercise ameliorates reduced brain-derived neurotophic factor in patients with panic disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2010; 35: 364-368
24 Taylor DV, Boyajian JG, James N, Woods D, Chicz-Demet A, Wilson AF, Sandman CA. Acidosis stimulates ß-endorphin release during exercise. J Appl Physiol 1994; 77: 1913-1918
25 Tremblay MS, Chu SY. Hormonal response to exercise. In: Warren MP, Constantini NW. eds.). Sports Endocrinology. New Jersey: Humana Press; 2000: 1-30
26 Vaynman S, Ying Z, Gomez-Pinilla F. Hippocampal BDNF mediates the efficacy of exercise on synaptic plasticity and cognition. Eur J Neurosci 2004; 20: 2580-2590
27 Winter B, Breitenstein C, Mooren FC, Volker K, Fobker M, Lechtermann A, Krueger K, Fromme A, Korsukewitz C, Floel A, Knecht S. High impact running improves learning. Neurorehab Neural Repair 2007; 87: 597-609
28 Zoladz JA, Pilc A, Majerczak J, Grandys M, Zapart-Bukowska J, Duda K. Endurance training increases plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration in young healthy men. J Physiol Pharmacol 2008; 59: 119-132