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Do invading leucocytes contribute to the decrease in glutathione concentrations indicating oxidative stress in
J A Duarte1, F Carvalho, M L Bastos
1Department of Sports Biology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal.
Abstract:
Mice were subjected to one session of strenuous running exercise and their soleus muscles were examined in respect of changes in ultrastructure and to their concentration of reduced glutathione [GSH] which are indicators of oxidative stress. It was hypothesized that invading leucocytes contributed to oxidative stress and they were functionally inhibited in one experimental group by the administration of colchicine. Exercise led to an immediate decrease in [GSH] of about 60%, which slowly recovered during 96 h after exercise. With the administration of colchicine after exercise, [GSH] was higher than in the untreated exercise group 48 h after exercise, indicating an inhibition of the ability of leucocytes to produce oxidative stress. However, at 96 h after exercise, [GSH] was lower in the treated exercise group than in the untreated group. The morphological evaluation of the percentage of affected fibres showed that the invasion of leucocytes increased muscle fibre damage. The results suggested that invading leucocytes enhanced production of reactive species of oxygen that may have participated in inducing muscle damage. However, inhibition of leucocyte invasion did not permit their scavenger action of removing cell debris, which appeared to produce even more oxidative stress in the muscle.
Insights
Strenuous exercise initially depletes reduced glutathione (GSH) in mouse soleus muscles. While inhibiting leucocytes with colchicine temporarily preserves GSH, it ultimately increases oxidative stress and muscle damage by hindering debris removal.
Area of Science:
- Exercise physiology
- Muscle biology
- Oxidative stress research
Background:
- Strenuous exercise induces oxidative stress in skeletal muscles.
- Leucocyte invasion is implicated in exercise-induced muscle damage.
- Reduced glutathione (GSH) is a key biomarker for oxidative stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of leucocytes in exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage in mouse soleus muscles.
- To evaluate the effect of inhibiting leucocyte function on GSH levels and muscle integrity post-exercise.
Main Methods:
- Mice underwent a single session of strenuous running exercise.
- Soleus muscles were analyzed for ultrastructural changes and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations.
- One group received colchicine post-exercise to inhibit leucocyte function.
Main Results:
- Exercise caused an immediate ~60% decrease in soleus muscle GSH, with slow recovery over 96 hours.
- Colchicine treatment partially preserved GSH levels at 48 hours post-exercise compared to untreated controls.
- At 96 hours, colchicine-treated mice showed lower GSH levels than controls, suggesting impaired debris clearance.
- Increased leucocyte invasion correlated with greater muscle fiber damage.
Conclusions:
- Invading leucocytes contribute to exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage via reactive oxygen species production.
- Inhibiting leucocyte invasion impairs necessary scavenger functions, leading to prolonged oxidative stress and potentially greater muscle damage.