Influences of physical training on the functional changes of young and old red blood cells

Eleven male elite endurance-trained athletes and 10 male elite strength-trained athletes were compared to a non-trained group of men, to determine the effect of training on some haematological parameters and some indicators of red cell membrane properties. Erythrocytes were age-fractionated by centrifugation in Percoll gradients. It has been found that in the reticulocytes and young erythrocytes of endurance trained athletes activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and concentration of glutathione (GSH) were higher than in strength-trained athletes and control. The red cell osmotic fragility (RCOF) and glycerol lysis time (GLT) of young cells were similar in all investigated groups. The endurance training indicating chronic adaptation mechanisms in significant changes of red cell metabolism but non membrane properties.