Increased carotid arterial stiffness is associated with a risk factor of congestive heart failure. Thus factors that affect carotid arterial stiffness are of both physiological and clinical interest. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of regular aerobic exercise and menstrual cycle on carotid arterial stiffness in young female. The carotid β-stiffness index, an index of carotid arterial stiffness, was assessed in eight young female athletes (20.5 ± 0.4 years) and ten young female control subjects (21.3 ± 0.7 years). The carotid β-stiffness index was determined using ultrasound images of the common carotid artery with simultaneous recording of carotid arterial blood pressure by applanation tonometry. There was no difference in carotid β-stiffness index between the control and the athlete group both at the early follicular and the pre-ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle. On the other hand, the carotid β-stiffness index decreased from the early follicular phase to the pre-ovulation phase both in the control and the athlete group. These results suggest that carotid arterial stiffness in young females is not affected by regular aerobic exercise, but changes with the menstrual cycle, irrespective of exercise status.

【Objective】The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute responses of adiponectin and leptin to resistance exercise in healthy elderly men. 【Methods】Eight healthy men (age, 25.5±3.3 yrs) participated in this study. They performed two trials. Trial 1 was an exercise session consisting of 5 resistance exercises at high-intensity (75% one-repetition maximum : 1 RM) with three sets of 10 repetitions. Trial 2 was a control trial at rest for the same time as trial 1. Blood samples were taken to assess adiponectin, leptin, and metabolism related substances (glucose and lipids).【Results】Leptin significantly decreased 24 h after the resistance exercise but did not change in trial 2. Blood insulin and lactate concentrations significantly increased immediately (0 min) and 30 min after the exercise. However, adiponectin, glucose and lipids were not affected. 【Conclusion】Adiponectin was not affected by resistance exercise, whereas leptin decreased 24 h after the exercise. This suggests that leptin may have quite a delayed response to high-intensity resistance exercise.