Relation between voluntary physical activity and oxidant/antioxidant status in rats

The relationship between voluntary distance running and antioxidant capacity was studied in rats after three weeks voluntary running. Hydroxyl radical level, reduced glutathione level, activities of glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase were measured in plasma, liver, brain, soleus and gastrocnemius white muscle. Hydroxyl radical level of liver negatively correlated with the running distance (r=-0.616, P<0.001). The reduced glutathione levels of liver and brain increased depending on the running distance and the correlation was confirmed between them in liver (r=0.638, P<0.01) and brain (r=0.766, P<0.001). The hydroxyl radical level in liver positively correlated with the activities of glutathione reductase (r=0.464, P<0.05) and superoxide dismutase (r=0.549, P<0.05). A significant positive correlation was detected between the hydroxyl radical level and superoxide dismutase activity in brain (r=0.488, P<0.05). These results demonstrate that physical activity correlates well with glutathione level and anti-oxidant enzyme activities in liver, suggesting a close relation between physical activity and induction of antioxidant systems.