title: Effect of regular aerobic exercise with ozone exposure on peripheral leukocyte populations in Wistar male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The immune system in endurance athletes may be at risk for deleterious effects of gasous pollutants such as ambient ozone. Therefore, this study was performed to assess the effect of regular aerobic exercise with ozone exposure on peripheral leukocytes populations in male Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty eight 8 weeks old rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups of ozone-unexposed and untrained (control or group 1, n = 6), ozone-exposed and untrained (group 2, n = 6), ozone-unexposed and trained (group 3, n = 8), ozone-exposed and trained (group 4, n = 8). All animals in groups 3 and 4 were regularly running (20 m/min, 30 min/day) on a treadmill for 7 weeks (5 day/week). After the last ozone exposure [0.3 ppm, 30 min per sessions], blood samples were obtained from the cardiac puncture and hematological parameters as well as blood lactate were measured using automatic analyzers. Data were expressed as means (± SD) and analyzed by ANOVA and Pearson's correlation tests at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the hematological parameters differences (except RBC and hemoglobin rate) were significantly higher in the trained groups (p < 0.001). However, ozone-induced leukocytosis in the trained (but not in the sedentary) rats was statistically higher than in the counterpart groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated acute ozone exposure has more additive effect on peripheral leukocyte counts in active animals. But, more researches are needed to identify effects of ozone exposure on other components of the immune system in athletes and non-athletes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali Hosseinpour
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Faizi
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Askarian
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pourrazi