TY - JOUR

T1 - Contact events in rugby union and the link to reduced cognition

T2 - evidence for impaired redox-regulation of cerebrovascular function

AU - Owens, Thomas S.

AU - Calverley, Thomas A.

AU - Stacey, Benjamin S.

AU - Iannatelli, Angelo

AU - Venables, Lucy

AU - Rose, George

AU - Fall, Lewis

AU - Tsukamoto, Hayato

AU - Berg, Ronan M.G.

AU - Jones, Gareth L.

AU - Marley, Christopher J.

AU - Bailey, Damian M.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Experimental Physiology © 2021 The Physiological Society

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - New Findings: What is the central question of this study? How does recurrent contact incurred across a season of professional rugby union impact molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive function? What is the main findings and its importance? A single season of professional rugby union increases systemic oxidative–nitrosative stress (OXNOS) confirmed by a free radical-mediated suppression in nitric oxide bioavailability. Forwards encountered a higher frequency of contact events compared to backs, exhibiting elevated OXNOS and lower cerebrovascular function and cognition. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic insight into the possible cause of reduced cognition in rugby union subsequent to impairment in the redox regulation of cerebrovascular function. Abstract: Contact events in rugby union remain a public health concern. We determined the molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive consequences of contact events during a season of professional rugby. Twenty-one male players aged 25 (mean) ± 4 (SD) years were recruited from a professional rugby team comprising forwards (n = 13) and backs (n = 8). Data were collected across the season. Pre- and post-season, venous blood was assayed for the ascorbate free radical (A•–, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) and nitric oxide (NO, reductive ozone-based chemiluminescence) to quantify oxidative–nitrosative stress (OXNOS). Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv, Doppler ultrasound) was measured to assess cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Notational analysis determined contact events over the season. Forwards incurred more collisions (Mean difference [MD] 7.49; 95% CI, 2.58–12.40; P = 0.005), tackles (MD 3.49; 95% CI, 0.42–6.56; P = 0.028) and jackals (MD 2.21; 95% CI, 0.18–4.24; P = 0.034). Forwards suffered five concussions while backs suffered one concussion. An increase in systemic OXNOS, confirmed by elevated A•– (F2,19 = 10.589, P = 0.004) and corresponding suppression of NO bioavailability (F2,19 = 11.492, P = 0.003) was apparent in forwards and backs across the season. This was accompanied by a reduction in cerebral oxygen delivery ((Formula presented.), F2,19 = 9.440, P = 0.006) and cognition (F2,19 = 4.813, P = 0.041). Forwards exhibited a greater decline in the cerebrovascular reactivity range to changes in PETCO2 ((Formula presented.) compared to backs (MD 1.378; 95% CI, 0.74–2.02; P < 0.001).

AB - New Findings: What is the central question of this study? How does recurrent contact incurred across a season of professional rugby union impact molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive function? What is the main findings and its importance? A single season of professional rugby union increases systemic oxidative–nitrosative stress (OXNOS) confirmed by a free radical-mediated suppression in nitric oxide bioavailability. Forwards encountered a higher frequency of contact events compared to backs, exhibiting elevated OXNOS and lower cerebrovascular function and cognition. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic insight into the possible cause of reduced cognition in rugby union subsequent to impairment in the redox regulation of cerebrovascular function. Abstract: Contact events in rugby union remain a public health concern. We determined the molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive consequences of contact events during a season of professional rugby. Twenty-one male players aged 25 (mean) ± 4 (SD) years were recruited from a professional rugby team comprising forwards (n = 13) and backs (n = 8). Data were collected across the season. Pre- and post-season, venous blood was assayed for the ascorbate free radical (A•–, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) and nitric oxide (NO, reductive ozone-based chemiluminescence) to quantify oxidative–nitrosative stress (OXNOS). Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv, Doppler ultrasound) was measured to assess cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Notational analysis determined contact events over the season. Forwards incurred more collisions (Mean difference [MD] 7.49; 95% CI, 2.58–12.40; P = 0.005), tackles (MD 3.49; 95% CI, 0.42–6.56; P = 0.028) and jackals (MD 2.21; 95% CI, 0.18–4.24; P = 0.034). Forwards suffered five concussions while backs suffered one concussion. An increase in systemic OXNOS, confirmed by elevated A•– (F2,19 = 10.589, P = 0.004) and corresponding suppression of NO bioavailability (F2,19 = 11.492, P = 0.003) was apparent in forwards and backs across the season. This was accompanied by a reduction in cerebral oxygen delivery ((Formula presented.), F2,19 = 9.440, P = 0.006) and cognition (F2,19 = 4.813, P = 0.041). Forwards exhibited a greater decline in the cerebrovascular reactivity range to changes in PETCO2 ((Formula presented.) compared to backs (MD 1.378; 95% CI, 0.74–2.02; P < 0.001).

KW - cerebral blood flow

KW - cognition

KW - contact

KW - rugby union

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111824136&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1113/EP089330

DO - 10.1113/EP089330

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34355451

AN - SCOPUS:85111824136

VL - 106

SP - 1971

EP - 1980

JO - Experimental Physiology

JF - Experimental Physiology

SN - 0958-0670

IS - 9

ER -