Mechanism of Free Radical Production in Exhaustive Exercise in Humans and Rats; Role of Xanthine Oxidase and Protection by Allopurinol

Exhaustive exercise generates free radicals. However, the source of this oxidative damage remains controversial. The aim of this paper was to study further the mechanism of exercise‐induced production of free radicals. Testing the hypothesis that xanthine oxidase contributes to the production of fre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IUBMB life 2000-06, Vol.49 (6), p.539-544
Main Authors: Viña, José, Gimeno, Amparo, Sastre, Juan, Desco, Carmen, Asensi, Miguel, Pallardó, Federico V., Cuesta, Andrés, Ferrero, José Antonio, Terada, Lance S., Repine, John E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Allopurinol
Allopurinol - pharmacology
Animals
Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood
Creatine Kinase - blood
Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology
Exercise
Exercise - physiology
Free Radical Scavengers - pharmacology
Free Radicals - metabolism
Glutathione - metabolism
Humans
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - blood
Liver - metabolism
Male
Malondialdehyde - metabolism
Mitochondria - metabolism
Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism
Oxidase
Oxidative
Oxidative Stress
Physical
Physical Exertion - physiology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Stress
Xanthine
Xanthine Oxidase - antagonists & inhibitors
Xanthine Oxidase - metabolism
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Summary:Exhaustive exercise generates free radicals. However, the source of this oxidative damage remains controversial. The aim of this paper was to study further the mechanism of exercise‐induced production of free radicals. Testing the hypothesis that xanthine oxidase contributes to the production of free radicals during exercise, we found not only that exercise caused an increase in blood xanthine oxidase activity in rats but also that inhibiting xanthine oxidase with allopurinol prevented exercise‐induced oxidation of glutathione in both rats and in humans. Furthermore, inhibiting xanthine oxidase prevented the increases in the plasma activity of cytosolic enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase) seen after exhaustive exercise. Our results provide evidence that xanthine oxidase is responsible for the free radical production and tissue damage during exhaustive exercise. These findings also suggest that mitochondria play a minor role as a source of free radicals during exhaustive physical exercise.
ISSN:1521-6543
1521-6551
DOI:10.1080/15216540050167098