Abstract

The purpose of this study was to research the characteristic of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocytes of sprinters and middle-distance runners. Resting content and activity of SOD in erythrocytes were studied in 8 untrained men, 8 sprinters and 8 middle-distance runners (male). SOD content, as well as SOD activity, in athletes was significantly greater than it was in untrained men. It suggested: the exercise training with which glycogen breakdown provided the majority of the non-oxidative energy could elevate the level of SOD in erythrocytes. The VO2max and AT, and SOD content and activity in erythrocytes from 12 athletes (4 sprinters and 8 middle-distance runners) were studied. There was no significant correlation between both VO2max and AT and SOD level. To also observe the change of SOD in erythrocytes after a bout of exercise, the content and activity of SOD did not change significantly after 12 athletes exercised to VO2max on a cycle ergometer. Similarly, they did not change significantly during 14 hours of recovery from 5000-metre race. These athletes had trained regularly several years and SOD level in erythrocytes of them had increased, which had been sufficient to remove and cope with increased O2 during the exercise. It might be one of the causes that SOD in erythrocytes did not change significantly after a bout of exercise. Verf.-Referat