Original paper
CATECHOLAMINES AND β2-ADRENOCEPTOR GENE EXPRESSION BEFORE AND AFTER MAXIMAL INCREMENTAL CYCLE TEST IN YOUNG ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS: RELATION TO WORK PERFORMED

The aim of this study was to assess the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations as well

as whole blood β2-adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) expression in young ice hockey players before and immediately

after exercise in relation to performed work. Nineteen Youth National Team ice hockey players were subjected

to the maximal incremental cycloergometer exercise. The test was done in the pre-competitive phase of training.

Among many parameters the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations and ADRB2 gene expression

in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined before and after exercise. The average performed

work was 3261.3 ± 558.3 J · kg-1 and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for all players was 53.85 ± 3.91

mL · kg-1 min-1. The geometric mean of the ADRB2 gene expression was statistically significantly different before

and after exercise (P ≤ 0.05), while adrenaline and noradrenaline levels in plasma significantly increased after

exercise. In the analysed group of athletes we found that initial level of plasma noradrenaline correlated with

the performed work (r = - 0.55, P < 0.014) and normalized ADRB2 expression before the exercise correlated

with the work done by them (r = 0.48, P<0.039). However, no statistically significant correlations were found

between the plasma adrenaline or noradrenaline concentrations and ADRB2 gene expression in peripheral blood

of the players. The performed work in the maximal incremental exercise test of regularly training young ice hockey

players depends on the initial levels of noradrenaline in plasma and ADRB2 mRNA in PBMC.