Studies that evaluate the mechanisms for increased airway responsiveness are very sparse,
although there are reports of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Therefore, we have evaluated
the tracheal reactivity and the rate of lipid peroxidation after different intensities of
swimming exercise in rats. Thus, male Wistar rats (age 8 weeks; 250–300 g) underwent a
forced swimming exercise for 1 h whilst carrying attached loads of 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8% of
their body weight (groups G3, G4, G5, G6 and G8, respectively; n=5 each).
Immediately after the test, the trachea of each rat was removed and suspended in an organ
bath to evaluate contractile and relaxant responses. The rate of lipid peroxidation was
estimated by measuring malondialdehyde levels. According to a one-way ANOVA, all trained
groups showed a significant decrease in the relaxation induced by aminophylline
(10−12–10−1 M) (pD2=3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.3 and 3.2, respectively for
G3, G4, G5, G6 and G8) compared to the control group (pD2=4.6) and the Emax
values of G5, G6, G8 groups were reduced by 94.2, 88.0 and 77.0%, respectively.
Additionally, all trained groups showed a significant increase in contraction induced by
carbachol (10−9–10−3 M) (pD2=6.0, 6.5, 6.5, 7.2 and 7.3,
respectively for G3, G4, G5, G6 and G8) compared to the control group (pD2=5.7). Lipid
peroxidation levels of G3, G4 and G5 were similar in both the trachea and lung, however G6
and G8 presented an increased peroxidation in the trachea. In conclusion, a single bout of
swimming exercise acutely altered tracheal responsiveness in an intensity-related manner
and the elevation in lipid peroxidation indicates a degree of oxidative stress
involvement.