Relation between changes in serum hypoxanthine levels by exercise and daily physical activity in the elderly

Plasma Concentration of Irisin and Brain-Derived-Neurotrophic Factor and Their Association With the Level of Erythrocyte Adenine Nucleotides in Response to Long-Term Endurance Training at Rest and After a Single Bout of Exercise

The study aimed to assess the effect of a single bout of incremental exercise on irisin and BDNF plasma concentrations as related to erythrocyte purine nucleotides concentration at rest and after exercise. Master endurance master athletes (training experience 38 ± 6 years) and a group of untrained participants completed a single bout of progressive incremental exercise test until exhaustion. The dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and blood collection were performed. Blood was taken twice at rest and 10 min after exercise. Concentrations of ATP, ADP, and AMP were assessed in the erythrocytes. Hypoxanthine and uric acid were determined in plasma using the high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasma concentrations of irisin and BDNF were assessed through the immunoenzymatic method. The ATP level, ATP/ADP ratio and AEC value were significantly higher in the athletic group. A significantly higher concentration of BDNF was it also noted in the trained group that correlated with the erythrocyte energy status at rest. The single session of exercise induced a significant increase in ATP erythrocyte levels in both groups. Both exerkines significantly correlated at rest with red blood cell adenine nucleotides and degradation products (BDNF positively and irisin negatively). The blood concentration of BDNF and irisin, in response to exercise, was not significantly different between groups. Obtained data revealed a higher erythrocyte energy status and lower purine degradation products concentration in master athletes. Also resting plasma exerkines differed substantially between groups. In conclusion, long-term training resulted in exercise adaptation reflected by a higher erythrocyte energy status, lower purine degradation products concentration and modified concentration of exerkines (higher BDNF and lower irisin blood concentrations). Therefore, we consider the training-induced adaptations in master athletes to be beneficial and significant. The moderate level of physical activity in the untrained group, even if sufficient in terms of general health, did not cause any discernible changes.

Purine metabolism in sprint- vs endurance-trained athletes aged 20‒90 years

Purine metabolism is crucial for efficient ATP resynthesis during exercise. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of lifelong exercise training on blood purine metabolites in ageing humans at rest and after exhausting exercise. Plasma concentrations of hypoxanthine (Hx), xanthine (X), uric acid (UA) and the activity of erythrocyte hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) were measured in 55 sprinters (SP, 20‒90 years), 91 endurance runners (ER, 20‒81 years) and 61 untrained participants (UT, 21‒69 years). SP had significantly lower levels of plasma purine metabolites and higher erythrocyte HGPRT activity than ER and UT. In all three groups, plasma purine levels (except UA in UT) significantly increased with age (1.8‒44.0% per decade). HGPRT activity increased in SP and ER (0.5‒1.0%), while it remained unchanged in UT. Hx and X concentrations increased faster with age than UA and HGPRT levels. In summary, plasma purine concentration increases with age, representing the depletion of skeletal muscle adenine nucleotide (AdN) pool. In highly-trained athletes, this disadvantageous effect is compensated by an increase in HGPRT activity, supporting the salvage pathway of the AdN pool restoration. Such a mechanism is absent in untrained individuals. Lifelong exercise, especially speed-power training, limits the age-related purine metabolism deterioration.

Alterations in purine metabolism in middle-aged elite, amateur, and recreational runners across a 1-year training cycle

Changes in purine derivatives may be considered as signs of training-induced metabolic adaptations. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a 1-year training cycle on the response of hypoxanthine (Hx) concentration and Hx-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) activity. Three groups of middle-aged male runners were examined: 11 elite master runners (EL; 46.0 ± 3.8 years), 9 amateur runners (AM; 45.1 ± 4.7 years), and 10 recreational runners (RE; 45.9 ± 6.1 years). Plasma Hx concentration and erythrocyte HGPRT activity were measured in three characteristic training phases of the annual cycle. Significant differences in post-exercise Hx concentration and resting HGPRT activity were demonstrated between the EL, AM, and RE groups across consecutive training phases. The EL group showed lowest Hx concentration and highest HGPRT activity compared to the AM and RE groups. Analogous differences were observed between the AM and RE groups during specific preparation. For the EL group, the changes were observed across all examinations and the lowest Hx concentration and highest HGPRT activity were found in the competition phase. Significant change was also revealed in the AM group between the general and specific preparation, but not in the competition phase. No significant changes were found in the RE runners who did not use anaerobic exercise in their training. In conclusion, a long-lasting endurance training, incorporating high-intensity exercise, results in significant changes in purine metabolism, whereas training characterized by constant low-intensity exercise does not. Plasma Hx concentration and erythrocyte HGPRT activity may be sensitive indicators of training adaptation and training status in middle-aged athletes.