Autonomic Nervous System Regulation, Exercise Physiology, Healthy Volunteers
Conditions
Keywords
Catestatin, Chromogranin A, High-intensity interval training, Moderate-intensity continuous training, Heart rate recovery, Parasympathetic reactivation
Brief summary
Physical exercise acts as a major physiological stressor that alters cardiovascular and autonomic homeostasis. Catestatin (CTS), a bioactive peptide derived from chromogranin A (CgA), acts as a potent inhibitor of catecholamine secretion and modulates autonomic cardiovascular tone. However, the acute effects of distinct exercise modalities on circulating CTS dynamics and their associations with post-exercise autonomic recovery remain unclarified. The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute responses of serum catestatin and chromogranin A to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in healthy sedentary young males, and to evaluate their potential relationship with post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR). Participants completed an initial incremental performance test followed by either a single HIIT session or a MICT session on a cycle ergometer. Serial blood samples and continuous cardiovascular measurements were obtained before, immediately after, and throughout a 60-minute post-exercise recovery period.
Detailed description
Twenty healthy sedentary young adult males (aged 18-25 years) were assigned to either a high-intensity interval training group (HIIT, n=10) or a moderate-intensity continuous training group (MICT, n=10). Following an initial incremental maximal exercise test to determine individual exercise capacities, participants performed their assigned acute exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer separated by at least 48 hours. The MICT session consisted of 30 minutes of continuous cycling at 60-70% of maximum heart rate (HRmax), whereas the HIIT protocol comprised four 4-minute intervals at 85-95% HRmax interleaved with 3-minute active recovery periods. Serial venous blood samples were collected at baseline (Pre), immediately post-exercise (0 min), and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise to analyze serum catestatin and chromogranin A concentrations via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Continuous heart rate and intermittent blood pressure were monitored throughout the exercise bouts and during the 60-minute recovery phase. Post-exercise autonomic regulation was assessed using 1-minute (HRR1) and 5-minute (HRR5) heart rate recovery indices.
Interventions
Acute bout of 4x4 min intervals at 85-95% HRmax with 3 min active recovery on a cycle ergometer.
Acute bout of continuous cycling for 30 minutes at 60-70% HRmax on a cycle ergometer.
Sponsors
Firat University
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
A two-arm parallel-group design comparing acute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in sedentary young males.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy male individuals aged 18-25 years * Body mass index (BMI) between 18.0 and 25.0 kg/m² * Sedentary lifestyle (no regular exercise engagement within the last 3 months; \<90 min/week moderate-intensity or \<60 min/week vigorous-intensity exercise) * Normal resting blood pressure (\<140/90 mmHg) * Fasting plasma glucose between 60 and 100 mg/dL * Normal resting electrocardiogram (ECG) and pulmonary function tests (FEV1/FVC \>80%) * Signed written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Regular smoking or alcohol consumption * Any current or regular medication use * History or clinical signs of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, or renal diseases * Symptoms suggestive of cardiopulmonary/metabolic disease (chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, syncope, ankle edema, palpitations, intermittent claudication) * Presence of known cardiovascular risk factors * Iron deficiency / anemia * Musculoskeletal limitations or contraindications to maximal cycle ergometer testing
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Serum Catestatin Concentration | Baseline (pre-exercise), immediately post-exercise (0 min), and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise. | Serum catestatin levels measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate acute exercise-induced dynamic responses. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Serum Chromogranin-A Concentration | Baseline (pre-exercise), immediately post-exercise (0 min), and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise. | Serum chromogranin-A (CgA) levels measured via ELISA to assess precursor dynamics and neuroendocrine response across exercise modalities. |
| Post-Exercise Heart Rate Recovery (HRR1 and HRR5) | At 1 minute and 5 minutes post-exercise. | Heart rate recovery calculated at 1 minute (HRR1 = peak heart rate minus heart rate at 1 min post-exercise) and 5 minutes (HRR5 = peak heart rate minus heart rate at 5 min post-exercise) to evaluate parasympathetic reactivation and sympathetic withdrawal. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed