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Alterations in purine metabolism in middle-aged elite, amateur, and recreational runners across a 1-year training cycle

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Abstract

Changes in purine derivatives may be considered as signs of training-induced metabolic adaptations. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a 1-year training cycle on the response of hypoxanthine (Hx) concentration and Hx–guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) activity. Three groups of middle-aged male runners were examined: 11 elite master runners (EL; 46.0 ± 3.8 years), 9 amateur runners (AM; 45.1 ± 4.7 years), and 10 recreational runners (RE; 45.9 ± 6.1 years). Plasma Hx concentration and erythrocyte HGPRT activity were measured in three characteristic training phases of the annual cycle. Significant differences in post-exercise Hx concentration and resting HGPRT activity were demonstrated between the EL, AM, and RE groups across consecutive training phases. The EL group showed lowest Hx concentration and highest HGPRT activity compared to the AM and RE groups. Analogous differences were observed between the AM and RE groups during specific preparation. For the EL group, the changes were observed across all examinations and the lowest Hx concentration and highest HGPRT activity were found in the competition phase. Significant change was also revealed in the AM group between the general and specific preparation, but not in the competition phase. No significant changes were found in the RE runners who did not use anaerobic exercise in their training. In conclusion, a long-lasting endurance training, incorporating high-intensity exercise, results in significant changes in purine metabolism, whereas training characterized by constant low-intensity exercise does not. Plasma Hx concentration and erythrocyte HGPRT activity may be sensitive indicators of training adaptation and training status in middle-aged athletes.

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Abbreviations

AdN:

Adenine nucleotide

AM:

Amateur runners

AMP:

Adenosine monophosphate

AMPd:

Adenosine monophosphate deaminase

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

BMI:

Body mass index

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

EL:

Elite master runners

Hb:

Hemoglobin

HClO4 :

Perchloric acid

HGPRT:

Hypoxanthine–guanine phosphoribosyltransferase

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

Hx:

Hypoxanthine

IMP:

Inosine monophosphate

Ino:

Inosine

K2CO3 :

Potassium carbonate

KH2PO4 :

Potassium phosphate

LApost :

Post-exercise plasma concentration of lactate

MANOVA:

Multiple analysis of variance

MgCl2 :

Magnesium chloride

NADH:

Nicotine adenine dinucleotide, reduced

NH3 :

Ammonia

O2 :

Oxygen

PRPP:

Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate

RE:

Recreational runners

SD:

Standard deviation

TBAS:

Tetrabutylammonium sulfate

UA:

Uric acid

UV:

Ultraviolet

\( \dot{V}_{\text{E}} \) :

Ventilation

\( \dot{V}_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} \) :

Oxygen uptake

\( \dot{V}_{{{\text{O}}_{{ 2 {\text{GET}}}} }} \) :

Oxygen uptake at gas exchange threshold

\( \dot{V}_{{{\text{O}}_{2\hbox{Max} } }} \) :

Maximal oxygen uptake

X:

Xanthine

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the athletes for their full participation. This work was funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education from financial resources destined for scientific activity in years 2010–2011 (Application and Grant Number: N N404 191536).

Ethical standards

The authors declare that the experiments comply with the current laws of Poland.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Athletics, Eugeniusz Piasecki University School of Physical Education, ul. Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871, Poznań, Poland

    Jacek Zieliński & Krzysztof Kusy

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębinki 1, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland

    Ewa Słomińska

Authors
  1. Jacek Zieliński
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  2. Krzysztof Kusy
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  3. Ewa Słomińska
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacek Zieliński.

Additional information

Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

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Zieliński, J., Kusy, K. & Słomińska, E. Alterations in purine metabolism in middle-aged elite, amateur, and recreational runners across a 1-year training cycle. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 763–773 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2488-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2488-4

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