OBJECTIVE: To analyze the acute effects of short-duration exercise of different lengths and intensities on total leukocytes, peritoneal macrophage count and on the phagocytic capacity of peritoneal macrophages. METHOD: Five groups of Wistar rats were used (n= 30, n= 6 per group): one sedentary control group (C); two groups exercised for 5 minutes at low or moderate intensity (5L and 5M, respectively); and two groups exercised for 15 minutes at low or moderate intensity (15L and 15M, respectively). Low-intensity exercise was done without any load, while moderate-intensity was done with an additional load of 5% of the animal's body weight, attached to its back. The total leukocyte and monocyte counts were obtained under a microscope, and the readings were made with the Leucotron TP apparatus. The percentage phagocytosis was determined by counting in a Neubauer chamber, from the number of cells that phagocytized three or more particles of zymosan. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were used, with p < 0.05. RESULTS: There was an increase in total leukocytes in the exercised groups (from 4.12 ± 0.17 x 10(6) to 8.69 ± 1.06 x 10(6) for 5L, 9.5 ± 0.91 x 10(6) for 15L, 12.56 ± 0.9 x 10(6) for 5M and 11.61 ± 0.6 x 10(6) for 15M), an increase in peritoneal macrophage count after 15 minutes of moderate exercise (from 14.07 ± 0.57 x 10(6) to 20.9 ± 1.28 x 10(6)) and an increase in phagocytic capacity after 5 and 15 minutes of light exercise (from 74.8 ± 0.73% to 79.8 ± 0.8% and 83% ± 0.44%, respectively) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-duration exercise promotes increased phagocytic capacity. This is of importance for rehabilitation and sports.
physical exercise; immunological system; macrophages; phagocytic capacity
