Acute and chronic effects of combined endurance and strength training on blood leukocytes in untrained healthy men

Lasmanova, Jevgenia 2014. Acute and chronic effects of combined endurance and strength training on blood leukocytes in untrained healthy men. Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyvaskyla. Master’s Thesis in Exercise Physiology. 71 pp. The alterations in white blood cell (WBC) count are seen in individuals engaged in regular endurance training. Whereas no substantial changes in total or differential WBC count has been observed in strength trained individuals. For healthy adults it is recommended to participate in both endurance and strength training. The effects of independent endurance and strength exercises performed on separate occasions are studied profoundly. However, there are considerably less studies investigating the effects of combined endurance and strength (E+S) exercise training on WBCs. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the acute and chronic effects of combined E+S training on WBCs in healthy young men. Twenty-two untrained subjects (30.5 ± 6.9 years) were selected to examine the acute effects of combined E+S exercise bout. The chronic effects of 12-week combined E+S training were examined using the data from 16 subjects (30.3 ± 6.7 years). Additionally, the cellular stress induced by the E+S exercise bout was studied by measuring 72 kDa heat shock protein transcripts (HSPA1A) prior to and following the 12-week training programme (n=6, 29.6 ± 9.1 years). Total and differential WBC count was determined using an automated haematology analyser. HSPA1A mRNA content in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was detected using a real-time quantitative PCR. Combined E+S exercise bout induced substantial leukocytosis (48%, p≤0.001) in the circulation of untrained men. The greatest increase was observed in neutrophil count (65%, p≤0.001), followed by mixed cell count (monocytes, eosinophils, basophils) (24%, p≤0.05). Total WBC count decreased during the 12 week training period, from 6.61 ± 1.24 ·10/L to 5.99 ± 1.06 ·10/L (p≤0.05). Neutrophil count declined from 3.53 ± 1.14 · 10/L to 2.85 ± 0.58 · 10/L (p≤0.05) following the training period. The relative increase in leukocytes in response to acute E+S exercise bout was greater after the training period. After the 12-week training period HSPA1A mRNA content increased at rest and decreased in response to acute exercise bout (p≤0.05). In conclusion, acute E+S exercise bout elicits leukocytosis in untrained men similar to leukocytosis seen in independent endurance or strength exercises. Twelve weeks of combined E+S training affected total and differential leukocyte count significantly. An adaptation to training was manifested in decrease in number of total WBCs and neutrophils at rest. The relative exercise-induced leukocytosis was greater following the combined E+S training when compared to pre-training exercise bout. In addition HSPA1A mRNA content increased at rest after 12-week combined E+S training period. According to the results of the study it can be said that regular combined E+S training alters peripheral immune system beneficially.