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Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of single and repeated bouts of gymnastic training on salivary IgA and cortisol, in elite boy’s gymnasts.
Materials and methods: Twenty boys with mean age of 10 ± 0.8 years, height 145 ± 9 cm , weight 37 ±8 kg and body fat percent 14.2 ± 6(meam ± SE) in Ghaemshahr Club in 2007, performed the select and controlled gymnastic training in two bouts(single session, and double session), one week apart. The first bout, included one session a day, beginning at 6 to 8 P.M. and the second bout was performed in two sessions per day, beginning at 8.30 to 10.30 A.M and 6 to 8 P.M. Salivary samples ( 5 ml) to form un-stimulated were collected in pre-exercise, immediately after and 2 hours following gymnastic training. Levels of IgA and cortisol were measured by ELISA method. ANOVA test was performed for analysis of the obtained data.
Results: The IgA level indicated no significant change after two bouts of exercise within the same day (P>0.5), however, cortisol concentration increased (P<0.05). No significant correlation was observed between IgA and cortisol concentrations
Conclusion: These findings suggest that two bouts of gymnastic training (120-minutes), at moderate intensity with a 7.30 hours rest in between, had no effect on IgA concentration, but caused an increased in cortisol concentration.

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 Background and purpose: The use of testosterone enanthate has increased in athletes, especially in resistance trainings. The present study aimed at comparing the independent and interactive effects of resistance training, testosterone, and Phoenix dactylifera extract on the expression of adiponectin and GLUT4, as well as some oxidative stress indices in brown adipose tissue in male rats.
Materials and methods: Thirty-six male rats were divided into different groups, including a control group, exercise training, phoenix dactylifera extract, testosterone, phoenix dactylifera extract + exercise training, and testosterone+ exercise training groups. Resistance trainings were done for four weeks (5 sessions/week) in experimental groups. On days of exercise, the rats were fed with phoenix dactylifera extract and testosterone (100 and 2 mg/kg, respectively). Forty-eight hours after the last intervention, the animals were sacrificed and brown fat tissues were removed. Then, the gene expression of adiponectin and GLUT4, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured.
Results: Resistance training increased the expression of adiponectin and GLUT4, increased SOD activity and decreased MDA level. Testosterone also increased SOD activity and decreased MDA level in brown adipose tissue. Phoenix dactylifera increased the expression of adiponectin and the activity of SOD, and decreased MDA level. Exercise and simultaneous use of testosterone/phoenix dactylifera have synergistic effect on adipose tissue MDA compared to testosterone and phoenix dactylifera intervention alone.
Conclusion: This study reinforces the hypothesis of using phoenix dactylifera as a natural substance instead of synthetic testosterone.