EFFECT OF COLD-EXPOSURE (-15-DEGREES-C) AND SALBUTAMOL TREATMENT ON PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN ELITE NONASTHMATIC CROSS-COUNTRY SKIERS

The effects of whole-body exposure to ambient temperatures of -15 degr ees C and 23 degrees C on selected performance-related physiological v ariables were investigated in elite nonasthmatic cross-country skiers. At an ambient temperature of -15 degrees C we also studied the effect s of the selective beta(2)-adrenergic agonist Salbutamol (0.4 mg x 3) which was administered 10 min before the exercise test. Eight male cro ss-country skiers with known maximal oxygen uptakes ((V) over dotO(2ma x)) of more than 70 ml . kg(-1) min(-1) participated in the study. Oxy gen uptake ((V) over dotO(2)), heart rate (f(c)), blood lactate concen tration ([La-](b)) and time to exhaustion were measured during control led submaximal and maximal running on a treadmill in a climatic chambe r. Lung function measured as forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) wa s recorded immediately before the warm-up period and at the conclusion of the exercise protocol. Submaximal (V) over dotO(2) and [La-](b) at the two highest submaximal exercise intensities were significantly hi gher at -15 degrees C than at 23 degrees C. Time to exhaustion was sig nificantly shorter in the cold environment. However, no differences in (V) over dotO(2max) or f(c) were observed. Our results would suggest that exercise stress is higher at submaximal exercise intensities in a cold environment and support the contention that aerobic capacity is not altered by cold exposure. Furthermore, we found that after Salbuta mol inhalation FEV1 was significantly higher than after placebo admini stration. However, the inhaled beta(2)-agonist Salbutamol did not infl uence submaximal and maximal (V) over dot(O2), f(c), [La-](b) or time to exhaustion in the elite, nonasthmatic crosscountry skiers we studie d. Thus, these results did not demonstrate any ergogenic effect of the beta(2)-agonist used.