title: An in vivo and in vitro study of erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase, (Na+, K+)-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities in basketball players on alpha-tocopherol supplementation. The role of L-carnitine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol, alpha-Te) and carnitine reduce lipid peroxidation. THE AIM WAS TO: To investigate the erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Na+, K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities in basketball players with or without alpha-Te supplementation, before and after training. In vitro, we aimed to find out any additional effect of L-carnitine (L-C) on the modulated enzyme activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was obtained from 10 players before (group A), after exercise (group B) and after 1 month on alpha-Te (200 mg/24 h orally) supplementation before (group C) and after the game (group D). Lactate, pyruvate, muscle enzyme activities and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured with commercial kits. Catecholamines and alpha-Te were determined with HPLC methods and membrane enzyme activities spectrophotometrically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lactate, pyruvate, muscle enzymes and catecholamine levels were increased (P<0.001) in all groups after training. Alpha-Te levels and Mg2+-ATPase activity remained unaltered before and after exercise. TAS was decreased in the groups after the game. AChE activity was increased in group B (P<0.01) and decreased in group D (P<0.01). After the exercise, Na+, K+-ATPase activity was increased in group B and remained unaltered in group D. In vitro incubation of membranes from group D with L-C resulted in a partially restoration of the membrane AChE activity, whereas Na+, K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities were found unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alpha-Te supplementation in basketball players results in an increase of TAS and AChE activity, whereas the other enzyme activities were found unchanged. L-C addition may restore AChE activity, which was modulated by training in players on alpha-Te.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, Research Center, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, GR-11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Kleopatra H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schulpis
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parthimos
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsakiris
authors.forename: Nickolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parthimos
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsakiris
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D001490:Basketball; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000502:physiology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000201:enzymology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D002331:Carnitine