The effect of exercise on the oxidative stress induced by experimental lung injury

The effects of physical exercise on oxidative stress parameters and immunocontent of NF-кβ/p65 in lung of rats submitted to lung injury, as well as its possible protective effect on the changes in the alveolar-capillary barrier (total cell count, lactate dehydrogenase and total protein) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the inflammatory infiltration in the pulmonary parenchyma were evaluated.

Wistar rats were submitted to two months of physical exercise and after this period, lung injury was induced by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (dose of 100 μg/100 g body weight). Twelve hours after injury, the animals were sacrificed and lung and BALF were collected.

Results showed an increase in reactive species production, lipid peroxidation, oxidative damage to protein, as well as in nitrite levels and NF-кβ/p65 immunocontent in lung of rats submitted to lung injury. Physical exercise was able to totally prevent the increase in reactive species, nitrite levels and NF-кβ/p65 immunocontent, but partially prevented the damage to protein. Superoxide dismutase and catalase were not changed in lung injury group, but the activities of these enzymes were increased in lung injury plus exercise group. Non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase were decreased and exercise totally prevented such effects. Rats subjected to lung injury presented an increase in total cell, lactate dehydrogenase and total protein; exercise partially prevented the increase in lactate dehydrogenase.

These findings suggest that physical exercise may prevent, at least partially, the oxidative damage caused by experimental lung injury, suggesting that exercise may have an important role as protector in this condition.