Identify two key hormonal responses to acute resistance exercise and their time course.

• A. Acute rises in cortisol alone with no other hormonal changes.
• B. Acute rises in testosterone and growth hormone; a transient rise in cortisol; insulin typically decreases.
• C. No hormonal changes occur during acute resistance exercise.
• D. Only growth hormone rises while testosterone remains unchanged and cortisol decreases.

Answer: (B)

During an acute resistance workout the body activates hormones that support muscle work and recovery. The strongest pattern involves rises in testosterone and growth hormone right around the effort, helping to drive muscle protein synthesis and adaptation. At the same time, cortisol surges briefly to help mobilize energy substrates like glucose and fatty acids, then returns toward baseline once the exercise ends. Insulin typically falls during the activity because sympathetic activity and muscle contractions blunt insulin release and shift metabolism toward glucose and fat mobilization for use by working muscles. In terms of timing, growth hormone and testosterone tend to peak during or very soon after the session, cortisol rises during the exercise and declines in the ensuing hours, and insulin remains suppressed during the workout (with potential changes after exercise depending on feeding).