Exercise training and low dose radiation protect skeletal muscle from high dose radiation
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abstract
Radiation is a lethal, carcinogenic, mutagenic and oxidative stress‐inducing stimulus at high doses (HDR). In low doses (LDR), however, radiation is a hormetic stimulus that protects against oxidative stress by activating cellular defence mechanisms. Exercise training (EX) activates many of the same defence systems, suggesting that EX may be a potent radioprotectant. To examine whether EX could protect skeletal muscle against HDR, we divided mice into four groups (n=16/group): no intervention (SED), EX, LDR, and a group receiving both interventions (ExLDR). A sample of mice from each group received a high dose of radiation (HDR). Markers of oxidative damage, antioxidant enzyme activity and mitochondrial enzyme activity were measured. EX enhanced antioxidant capacity as exhibited by an increase in total, and MnSOD activity which was further increased in response to HDR. LDR did not alter basal antioxidant capacity, however, total, Mn‐, CuZnSOD, and catalase activity all increased in response to HDR. The increase in catalase activity was likely a response to the decreased GPx activity observed in LDR. The mitochondrial enzymes, cytochrome c oxidase and citrate synthase increased activity in EX and LDR following the HDR. Here, we demonstrate the ability of two hormetic stimuli, EX and LDR, to protect skeletal muscle from exposure to a HDR. Funding provided by US DOE (DE‐FG02‐07ER64343) and NSERC.
