The purpose of this study was undertaken to examine the reproducibility of saliva lactate measurement, and to compare the saliva lactate concentration following a 400 m run in sprinters and long-distance runners. The peak blood lactate concentration was 11.48 ± 1.28 mmol・l⁻¹ for the 1 st 3,000 m test and 10.72 ± 2.61 mmol・l⁻¹ for the 2 nd 3,000 m test. The peak saliva lactate after the 1 st 3,000 m test and 2 nd 3,000 m test was 0.56 ± 0.19 mmol・l⁻¹ and 0.60 ± 0.20 mmol・l⁻¹, respectively.
　There was no significant difference in saliva and blood lactate between the 1 st and 2 nd 3,000 m run tests, The peak blood lactate follwing a 400 m run was 17.26±1.19 mmol・l⁻¹ for sprinters and 12.33 ± 1.99 mmol・l⁻¹ for the long-distance runners. There was a significant relationship in the saliva lactate between the 1 st and 2 nd 3,000 m run tests (r= 0.763, P< 0.01). The peak blood lactate after a 400 m run was significantly higher in the sprinters compared with the long-distance runners (P< 0.05). The peak saliva lactate follow-ing a 400 m run in sprinters and long-distance runners was 1.58 ± 0.38 mmol・l⁻¹ and 0.62 ± 0.17 mmol・l⁻¹, respectively. The peak saliva lactate concentration following a 400 m run was higher in sprinters than long-distance runners (P<0.01). There was a significant relationship in the peak lactate following a 400 m run between saliva and blood (r=0.702, P<0.05).
　It was suggested from these results that, 1) a reliable saliva lactate measurement could be obtained following exercise, and 2) the saliva lactate after exercise reflected the blood lactate.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.14/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE