The interface of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis and circulating brain natriuretic peptide in prediction of cardiopulmonary performance during physical stress

•Cortisol predicts heart rate increase and maximal carbon-dioxide output.•ACTH during stress predicts maximal ventilatory efficiency.•HPA axis and NT-pro-BNP interface during stress.•HPA axis and NT-pro-BNP have possible integrative regulatory role in stress. Brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) was implicated in the regulation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) responses to psychological stressors. However, HPA axis activation in different physical stress models and its interface with NT-pro-BNP in the prediction of cardiopulmonary performance is unclear. Cardiopulmonary test on a treadmill was used to assess cardiopulmonary parameters in 16 elite male wrestlers (W), 21 water polo player (WP) and 20 sedentary age-matched subjects (C). Plasma levels of NT-pro-BNP, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were measured using immunoassay sandwich technique, radioimmunoassay and radioimmunometric techniques, respectively, 10min before test (1), at beginning (2), at maximal effort (3), at 3rdmin of recovery (4). In all groups, NT-pro-BNP decreased between 1 and 2; increased from 2 to 3; and remained unchanged until 4. ACTH increased from 1 to 4, whereas cortisol increased from 1 to 3 and stayed elevated at 4. In all groups together, ΔNT-pro-BNP2/1 predicted peak oxygen consumption (B=37.40, r=0.38, p=0.007); cortisol at 3 predicted heart rate increase between 2 and 3 (r=−0.38,B=−0.06, p=0.005); cortisol at 2 predicted peak carbon-dioxide output (B=2.27, r=0.35, p