Erythrocyte deformability and nitric oxide metabolites in athletes before and after a cardiopulmonary test.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate erythrocyte deformability, nitric oxide metabolites, and their modifications induced by exercise in athletes who practised different sports.


METHODS
This evaluation was effected before and after cardiopulmonary test, using a cycloergometer.


METHODS
The study was performed in the Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Renal Diseases of the University of Palermo.


METHODS
We enrolled 62 male athletes who practised endurance (n = 23), mixed (n = 20), and power (n = 19) sports and 20 sedentary male subjects as controls.


METHODS
No subject had diabetes or hypertension or dyslipidemia. Five control subjects and 14 athletes were smokers.


METHODS
Erythrocyte deformability was examined as elongation index (EI) using a diffractometer. The nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite + nitrate = NOx) were evaluated employing the Griess reagent.


RESULTS
In the whole group, an increase in EI and NOx was present. Subdividing the whole group into 3 subgroups, we noted an increase in EI and NOx only in endurance and mixed athletes. The EI before and after the cardiopulmonary test significantly decreased in the whole group and in power athletes but not in endurance and mixed athletes. Before and after the test, NOx did not significantly change in the whole group and in the 3 subgroups.


CONCLUSIONS
In athletes who practised endurance and mixed sports, we observed an increase of NOx level and an increase of erythrocyte deformability. The latter did not change after an exercise test in the same subgroups, whereas it decreased in power athletes.
Caimi
Gregorio
G
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Malattie Cardiovascolari e Nefrourologiche, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy. caimigre@unipa.it
Canino
Baldassare
B
Amodeo
Gabriella
G
Ingargiola
Paolo
P
Lucido
Daniela
D
Calandrino
Vincenzo
V
Presti
Rosalia Lo
RL
D000328:Adult; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide