Production of tumoral necrosis factor-alpha and hydrogen peroxide during Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice submitted to exercise/Producao de fator de necrose tumoral-alfa e peroxido de hidrogenio na infeccao pelo Trypanosoma cruzi em camundongos submetidos ao exercicio

This study aimed to determine the levels of seric tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and production of hydrogen peroxide ([H.sub.2][O.sub.2]) by peritoneal macrophages in mice experimentally infected with T. cruzi and submitted to pre-infection exercise training and to post-infection acute exercise. Female 30-day-old BALB/c mice were inoculated with 1,400 blood trypomastigotes of Y-strain T. cruzi. Exercise programs consisted in moderate-intensity activity and were carried out in a treadmill. The measurements were performed with material collected at the 13th day after infection Serum TNF-alpha was evaluated using capture ELISA. [H.sub.2][O.sub.2] production was expressed by coloration produced after incubation of peritoneal macrophages and the measurement was performed using an ELISA reader. There were no statistically significant differences in TNF-alpha levels and [H.sub.2][O.sub.2] production between the trained and non-trained infected groups. Thus, the physical training performed before infection and physical exercise performed after the infection were not able to change the levels of TNF-alpha and production of [H.sub.2][O.sub.2] in the infection by T. cruzi.