The aim of this study was to compare oxidative stress levels in mice (Balb-C) submitted to two severe organic conditions: exhaustive swimming training (overreaching - OVER group; n = 10) and inoculation of the Ehrlich's Ascitic Tumor (EAT group; n = 10). Lipid peroxidation, quantified by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and levels of antioxidant enzyme (catalase- CAT) were used as indicators of oxidative stress. Muscle damage levels were measured through plasma creatine kinase (CK), aspartate transaminase (AST) as well as blood creatinine and urea activities samples. As main results, it has been observed that in both situations, whether by exhaustive exercise (OVER) or inoculation of EAT, dramatic decrease in the catalase activity levels was present when compared with the training group (T) (30%; p < 0.01 and 72%; p < 0.001, respectively) with concomitant increase in plasma TBARS concentration (52%; p < 0.01 and 90% p < 0.001, respectively). Plasma CK levels were more prominent in the OVER group, while the amount of AST plasma was higher in the EAT group. We concluded that the same profile of oxidative stress was found in situations involving exhaustive exercise and pathology. These results will allow professionals involved with load training manipulation to be concerned with the rest periods, preventing hence the installation of overreaching, which in terms of oxidative stress, was as severe as a pathological conditions.
oxidative stress; overreaching; swimming training; Ehrlich's ascitic tumor
