Effect of moderate exercise on rat T-cells

The aim of this study was a detailed examination of the effects of moderate exercise on T-cells in adult male Wistar rats. The T-cell populations were compared in sedentary rats (C, n = 5) and in rats trained for 4 weeks on a treadmill (30-60 min.day-1, 6 days.week-1, 20-30 m.min-1) and sacrificed at rest (T-rest, n = 5). In the T-rest rats, there were higher percentages of CD4+CD8-, CD4-CD8+ and CD4-CD8- thymocytes (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively) and of CD4-CD8+ splenocytes (P < 0.01), and a lower percentage of CD4-CD8+ cells in the lymph nodes (P < 0.01). Compared with T-rest or C rats, trained rats (n = 5) or untrained rats (n = 5) sacrificed immediately after a running session (60 min, 30 m.min-1) had a higher percentage of mononucleated cells CD4+CD8- in the blood (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Lastly, compared with C rats, rats (n = 5) sacrificed immediately after their 5th day of training (30-60 min.day-1) presented a higher total splenocyte population (P < 0.05) and greater in vitro production of T-cell growth factor (interleukin 2 + Interleukin 4) by splenocytes in response to a mitogen (P < 0.01). These results would indicate that moderate endurance training modifies the cellular composition of lymphoid organs, without impairing the in vitro functions of T-cells.