EFFECT OF A SHORT MAXIMAL PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON THE EOSINOPHIL CATIONIC PROTEIN

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) has been shown to be a marker of eos inophil granulocyte activation. In 10 healthy young subjects the plasm a concentrations of ECP were measured before and after a graded maxima l bicycle exercise test. The analyses were carried out 30 min before a nd immediately before exercise, immediately after exercise and 20 and 45 min later. The post-exercise values were corrected for plasma volum e changes which were calculated from hematocrit and hemoglobin values. Immediately post-exercise the ECP increased significantly (p<0.01) fr om 1.25+/-0.28 at rest to 2.40+/-0.59 mu g/1. Twenty and 45 min later the values normalized and significant differences from the pre-exercis e values could no longer be measured. The results provide strong evide nce for an activation of eosinophil granulocytes after a short maximal exercise.