Stimulation of the phagocytic function of neutrophils in sedentary men after acute moderate exercise

All the different stages of phagocytic function in blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils of sedentary (untrained) young men before, immediately after, and 15 min after being subjected to submaximal acute moderate exercise (50% maximal oxygen uptake) on a cycle ergometer were studied. No statistically significant differences were found in adherence or microbicide capacity against Candida albicans immediately after physical exercise. However, spontaneous mobility, chemotaxis and attachment and phagocytosis of Candida albicans at 15 min of incubation were significantly stimulated. Fifteen minutes after exercise spontaneous mobility, chemotaxis, and attachment of Candida albicans had returned to basal values, while phagocytosis of Candida albicans remained higher than basal values. One can, therefore, conclude that acute moderate exercise stimulates the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils in sedentary young men. In addition, no differences were found in the plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration after exercise. However, immediately after exercise there was a decrease in the serum cortisol concentration, which had returned to basal 15 min later.