The Responses of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Cortisol Hormone to a Session of High Intensity Interval Training and the Relationship between Their Serum Levels

VEGF as the most potent mitogen related to endothelial cells is the main factor in the incidence of angiogenesis process. Thus the aim of the present study was to examine the responses of VEGF and serum cortisol to a session of high intensity interval training and to determine the relationship between their serum levels. 11 non-athlete men (mean age 23.80 years) were selected voluntarily and participated in a session of high intensity interval training. Blood samples were collected before, immediately and 2 hours after the training. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and Pearson correlation test were used to analyze data. Serum VEGF decreased insignificantly immediately after the training (10.74%) while it increased 2 hours after the training and reached above the rest level (13.20). The serum cortisol decreased immediately and 2 hours after the training and this reduction was significant only in the phase of 2 hours after the training compared with the rest level. There was no significant relationship between VEGF and serum cortisol before, immediately and 2 hours after the training. In general, it can be concluded that a session of high intensity interval training may not have significant effects on serum VEGF levels and on the other hand, it can reduce serum free cortisol hormone.