Exercise In A Hot Environment Increases Serum Bdnf - No Influence Of A Ssri.

PURPOSE: To study the influence of a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (citalopram - SSRI) and environmental temperature on the exercise-induced increase of serum BDNF. METHODS: An intensive exercise protocol (60 min at 55% Wmax+a time trial (TT) of 30 min at 75% Wmax) was performed by 11 well-trained healthy males (age 23.3 yr; weight 77.4kg; maximal power output (Wmax) 330.7 Watt). In a double blind crossover design subjects performed 4 trials with SSRI/placebo treatment in an environmental temperature of 18°/30°C. Blood samples were taken at rest, after 60', after the TT, and after 15' of passive recovery. and analysed for BDNF and cortisol. Heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE, Borg scale) were measured during exercise. Data were analysed using ANOVA repeated measures (p