Abstract
PURPOSE: This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between EPO gene expression in rat kidney and liver, erythrocyte morphology, and sports anemia using a rat endurance training model. METHODS: 40 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups: sedentary (S; n=21), exercised (E; n=19). Animals in the E group started treadmill running at 30 m/min, 0% grade, for 1 min/bout. Running time was gradually increased by 2 min/bout every day during the 1st - 5th week and 8 - 11th week, and to 2 bouts/day during 3 - 11th week, reaching 254 min/day for the final week. At the end of 11th week, hematological indexes and erythrocytes shape were measured, and gene expression of Epo was quantified by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), Epo concentration was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Eleven weeks of exercise training increased Epo mRNA content of kidney (0.54 ± 0.07 vs. 0.86 ± 0.16 arbitrary units, for E vs. T rats, P < 0.01) and abnormality rate of erythrocyte (9.45 ± 0.59 % vs. 21.81 ± 10.55 % for E vs. T, P<0.01). Plasma Epo leve did not change with training and exercise did not change Epo gene expression in liver. CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenesis of sports anemia is not attributed to abnormal Epo production in rats, whereas abnormality of erythrocyte shape may be related to the low Hb, RBC and Hct in exercised rats.
Published Version
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