The influence of exogenous carbohydrate provision and pre-exercise alkalosis on the heat shock protein response to prolonged interval cycling

The aim of this study was to observe the intracellular heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) and heme oxygenase-1 (HSP32) response to prolonged interval cycling following the ingestion of carbohydrates (CHO) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Six recreationally active males (mean +/- A SD; age 23.2 +/- A 2.9 years, height 179.5 +/- A 5.5 cm, body mass 76.5 +/- A 6.8 kg, and peak power output 315 +/- A 36 W) volunteered to complete a 90 min interval cycling exercise on four occasions. The trials were completed in a random and blinded manner following ingestion of either: placebo and an artificial sweetener (P-P), NaHCO3 and sweetener (B-P), placebo and CHO (P-CHO), and NaHCO3 and CHO (B-CHO). Both HSP72 and HSP32 were significantly increased in monocytes and lymphocytes from 45 min post-exercise (p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.039), with strong relationships between both cell types (HSP72, r = 0.83; HSP32, r = 0.89). Exogenous CHO had no influence on either HSP72 or HSP32, but the ingestion of NaHCO3 significantly attenuated HSP32 in monocytes and lymphocytes (p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.042). In conclusion, the intracellular stress protein response to 90 min interval exercise is closely related in monocytes and lymphocytes, and HSP32 appears to be attenuated with a pre-exercise alkalosis.