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Int J Sports Med 1992; 13(6): 443-446
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021295
Physiology and Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Plasma Levels of Polymorphonuclear Elastase and Myeloperoxidase after Uphill Walking and Downhill Running at Similar Energy Cost

G. Camus1 , J. Pincemail2 , M. Ledent, A. Juchmès-Ferir3 , M. Lamy4 , G. Deby-Dupont4 , C. Deby2
  • 1Research Associate, FNRS, Laboratory of Human Applied Physiology, ISEPK, B21
  • 2Laboratory of Biochemistry and Radiobiology, Institute of Chemistry, B6
  • 3Department of Clinical Biology
  • 4Department of Anesthesiology, CHU, B35, Center for the Biochemistry of Oxygen, University of Liège, Sart Tilman,
    4000 Liège, Belgium
1 To whom any correspondence should be addressed.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

This study was designed to compare the effects of eccentric and concentric exercises on blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil count (nPMN) and plasma levels of myeloperoxidase ([MPO]) and elastase ([EL]) used as markers of neutrophil (PMN) activation. Ten healthy male subjects underwent 2 periods of exercise of 20 min duration each at 60% V̇O2max on an inclined treadmill. They initially walked up a 5% grade (UW). Ten days later they ran downhill on a 20% grade (RD). Blood samples were collected 10 min before and immediately after exercise. A postexercise sample was drawn after 20 min recovery. Both exercise bouts were accompanied by a similar and significant (p<0.01) increase of 33% in nPMN above resting values. Baseline nPMN values were reached after 20 min recovery. There were no significant changes in [MPO] and [EL] following UW. In contrast, RD was followed by significant increases (p<0.001) in [MPO] (+97%) and [EL] (+70%) above resting levels. While [MPO] returned to its pre-exercise level after 20 min recovery, [EL] remained significantly elevated (p<0.05). These results clearly demonstrate the importance of the eccentric component of muscle contraction in exercise-induced PMN activation.

Key words

Eccentric exercise - concentric exercise - polymorphonuclear neutrophil - myeloperoxidase - elastase

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