Increment of Alveolar Macrophages and Pulmonary Surfactant of Young Male Rats after Six Weeks Interval Training

This study aims to investigate changes of Alveolar macrophage and protein levels of pulmonary surfactant due to the six weeks of interval training on young male rats. Fifteen male Wistar rats strain in age by 3-weeks with average weight of 68 ± 9 g, were randomly divided into three experimental of basic, control and training groups. Progressive interval training was performed for six weeks after 2 weeks of familiarity with the lab and the treadmill. Exercises were performed for six days a week, 30-min during each interval training session. Training was carried out 1-min of arduous exercise with 2-min active rest interval in ten repetitions. Half of the training speed was considered for treadmill running speeds of trained rates in period of rest time. Surfactant protein A (SP-A) levels was measured by ELISA method and also Alveolar macrophages population percentages were measured by using Stereology of lung tissue method before and after the training program. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and LSD test at P≤0.05. Six weeks of progressive interval training significantly increased SP-A (P≤0.001) compared to the basic and control groups (32.2 and 24.2 percent respectively). Moreover, these trains significantly increased Alveolar macrophage population percentage than the basic and control groups at P≤0.001 (660 and 11- fold respectively).Physical activities confirmed the interaction effect of Alveolar macrophage and SP-A while, Alveolar macrophage had a more prominent role than the SP-A. It is expected that SP-A had a regulatory role in controlling inflammation and protection of the alveolar macrophage.