Antioxidant administration inhibits exercise-induced thymocyte apoptosis in rats.

Lin, Y S; Kuo, H L; Kuo, C F; Wang, S T; Yang, B C; Chen, H I · Med Sci Sports Exerc · 1999

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of antioxidant on exercise-induced apoptosis in rat thymocytes. After exercise at 13.8 m x min(-1) for 60-90 min x d(-1) on a motor-driven drum exerciser for 2 consecutive days, rat thymocyte apoptosis was monitored by the feature of DNA fragmentation. To study the effect of antioxidant, rats were administered with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) for 7 d before exercise. Exercise could induce thymocyte DNA fragmentation as detected on electrophoretic gel and by cell death detection ELISA kit. Further studies indicated that pretreatment with antioxidant BHA to rats resulted in a blockage of exercise-induced DNA fragmentation. The concentrations of glutathione (GSH) were not significantly changed in rat thymocytes after exercise with or without BHA treatment. These results suggest that reactive oxygen species may play a role in thymocyte apoptosis induced by exercise. However, changes in GSH levels were not observed in this exercise model.

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