A Broad-Based Estimation of the Physical Work Capacity of Young Men

The physical work capacity of young men (17–21 years old) was estimated during this broad-based study. The subjects were divided into two groups depending on the level of their motor activity: those who were in general sport fitness programs (166 subjects) and those who had achieved high recognition in sports (149 subjects). Two stages in the development of physical work capacity in young men were detected. The first stage covered the 17- to 18-year-old men and was characterized by a significant increase in physical development and aerobic capacity, the improved hemodynamic responses to physical exercise, and a high tension in the cardiac regulatory mechanisms. The second stage (18–21 years) was a period of relative stabilization of physical development and body functions, during which the organism came to a new functional level typical of adulthood. A comparative analysis of the physical work capacity in subjects with different levels of motor activity showed that the indices of physical development, physical fitness, and aerobic capacity in 17-year-old athletes exceeded the same indices in the untrained age-matched group. Physical work capacity was significantly higher in athletes than in the untrained subjects during the whole juvenile period. In athletes the age-related physical fitness and aerobic capacity increased to a greater extent but physical development increased to a lesser extent than the same in the untrained subjects.     

Long-term effects of physical training programme on risk factors for coronary heart disease in otherwise sedentary men.

Three hundred and seventy sedentary men aged 20-65 years enrolled in a physical training programme after a medical and fitness examination that included measurements of "classical" risk factors for coronary heart disease. Five years later re-examination showed (a) that on average the subjects had not changed significantly in weight, blood pressure, serum lipid concentrations, smoking habits, and physical working capacity; (b) that men who had remained active and therefore had a higher degree of fitness did not differ in risk factors from men who had returned to sedentary habits; and (c) that men who had improved substantially in fitness did not differ in risk factors from men whose fitness had not changed or had declined. Five years after the initial programme one-third of the men were continuing with regular vigorous exercise. These results do not support the view that classical risk factors for coronary heart disease improve with increased physical activity and fitness.     

Exercise-induced changes in blood zinc and related proteins in humans

Effects of cycle ergometer exercise (approximately 75% maximum ventilatory O2 consumption for 30 min) on the concentrations of zinc and related proteins in erythrocytes and/or plasma were studied on 11 sedentary male students. Lower concentrations of total zinc and of zinc derived from carbonic anhydrase I type (CA-I) in erythrocytes were observed immediately after exercise, but they disappeared after 30 min of rest. The change in total zinc concentration in erythrocytes correlated well with that in CA-I concentration immediately after exercise, as well as after rest. The concentration of carbonic anhydrase II type (CA-II)-derived zinc did not vary substantially at any time. On the other hand, there were significant increases in the plasma concentrations of total zinc and of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-MG)-bound zinc immediately after exercise, whereas no such effect was noted in albumin-bound zinc. A positive correlation was found between total zinc and alpha 2-MG concentrations in plasma immediately after exercise. In addition, the change in the activity of alkaline phosphatase, a zinc metalloenzyme, correlated well with that in the total zinc concentration in plasma. These results suggest that a brief physical exercise induces the movement of zinc into plasma.     

Cationic concentrations and transmembrane fluxes in erythrocytes of humans during exercise

The effect of exercise on the intraerythrocyte cationic concentrations and transmembrane fluxes such as the Na+-K+-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) pump, the Na+-K+ cotransport, and the Na+-Li+ countertransport system was studied in 11 normal male volunteers. All subjects performed an uninterrupted incremental exercise test on a bicycle ergometer, starting at an initial work load of 20% of the subjects' maximal exercise capacity, as determined in a pretest. The work rate was increased with an additional 20% each 6 min up to a final work load of 80%. Blood samples were taken at rest, at 60 and 80% of maximal exercise capacity, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 30 min after cessation of exercise. At moderate exercise (60% of maximal exercise capacity) the intraerythrocyte potassium concentration was not changed, but at severe exercise (80% of maximal exercise capacity) it was decreased. After exercise the intraerythrocyte potassium concentration returned to base line within 2 min. Exercise did not affect the intraerythrocyte concentrations of sodium and magnesium. The activity of the Na+-K+-ATPase pump and the Na+-K+ cotransport in the erythrocytes during and after exercise was no different from the resting level. The activity of the Na+-Li+ countertransport system on the contrary tended to decrease during exercise. It is concluded that exercise is accompanied by a leakage of potassium out of the erythrocytes without major alterations in the active red cell cationic fluxes.     

Effect of cadmium and aluminum intake on the antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in rat tissues.

This work aimed to study the relationship between the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) or aluminum (Al) in certain tissues and the levels of lipid peroxides as well as tissue antioxidants. To carry out such investigations, CdCl2 was given to rats in two dose levels; 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg i.p for 1 day or daily repeated doses for 2 weeks. Al was given as AlCl3 either in a single dose of 100 mg/kg or daily repeated doses of 20 mg/kg for 2 and 4 weeks. The measured parameters were tissue malondialdehyde (MDA, index of lipid peroxidation) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels as well as the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), glutathione reductase (GSSG-R), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) enzymes. Liver and kidney functions were assessed by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities as well as serum urea and creatinine concentrations. Cd and Al concentrations in the studied tissues were also measured. Results indicated that tissue Cd was significantly increased after administration of either Cd doses. After a single dose of 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg CdCl2, the increase in tissue Cd levels were accompanied by an increase in MDA and a decrease in GSH levels. On the other hand, after repeated administration of Cd, tissue Cd accumulation was accompanied by increased hepatic and renal GSH levels with decrease in MDA content and a decrease in GSH-PX activity in liver. Liver function was affected at all dose regimens, whereas kidney function was affected only after 2 weeks administration of the higher dose. In Al treated rats, Al concentration was shown to be increased in liver much more than in brain. This was accompanied by a slight decrease in hepatic GSH level after 2 weeks and a decrease in GSH-PX activity after 4 weeks. Liver function was affected only after repeated injection of Al for 2 or 4 weeks. In general, Al administration exhibited safer pattern than Cd.     

Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, and benzo[a]pyrene-quinones in the blood of rats treated with benzo[a]pyrene

The lipid peroxidation (as malondialdehyde, MDA), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) metabolites were investigated in sera and erythrocytes of male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with BaP (20 mg per rat). MDA levels were significantly increased in sera (16.98+/-3.29 nmol/ml serum, P<0.05) 12 h after BaP treatment and persisted up to 96 h (13.80+/-1. 65 nmol/ml serum, P<0.05), but no significant change in NIDA levels was observed in erythrocytes. SOD and CAT activities were significantly increased in erythrocytes shortly after BaP exposure, and they were slightly decreased in sera, indicating an inverse correlation between lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity. BaP and BaP-quinones (BaP-1,6-quinone and BaP-3,6-quinone) were measured in sera during the study period. A rapid increase of unmetabolized BaP was observed in sera (41.27+/-4.14 pmol/ml serum) 3 h after BaP treatment, reaching a peak at 6 h (48.56+/-4.62 pmol/ml serum) followed by a sharp decrease. Formation of the BaP-1, 6-quinone and BaP-3,6-quinone started in sera 3 h after BaP treatment, reached a peak at 24 h (7.23+/-1.02 pmol/ml serum) and 12 h (9.20+/-0.98 pmol/ml serum), respectively, and then decreased gradually. The time-dependent pattern of serum lipid peroxidation and the level of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes were shown to be related to the concentrations of the BaP-quinone metabolites. These results suggest that BaP treatment, probably via the formation of BaP-quinones, oxidatively altered lipids and antioxidant enzymes in the blood, and might be associated with BaP-related vascular toxicity including carcinogenesis.     

Effect of physical exercise on fibrinolytic properties of erythrocytes

The fibrinolytic properties of blood and erythrocytes were studied before and after physical exercise in male volunteers. Their fibrinolytic responses were of two distinct types. In type 1 response, fibrinolytic activities of blood and erythrocytes increased; the plasminogen activator and active plasmin contents in erythrocytes also increased, whereas the profibrinolysin content correspondingly decreased. In addition, physical exercise increased the erythrocyte adsorption properties for plasma activators of fibrinolysis. Type 2 response was characterized by a decrease in the fibrinolytic activity of blood; neither fibrinolytic activity nor adsorption properties of erythrocytes increased. The type of blood and erythrocyte response to muscular activity was determined by the pre-exercise level of red blood cell fibrinolytic activity. It was low in type 1 response due to a lesser content of plasmin activators and greater content of antiplasmin. In type 2 response, the initially high lytic capacity is connected with a greater reserve of activators and lesser reserve of inhibitors of the fibrinolytic system. A conclusion was made that individual differences in fibrinolytic responses to physical exercise were largely accounted for by the properties of erythrocytes.     

Selenium status is decreased in patients with intrinsic asthma

Lowered selenium (Se) status has been observed in asthma patients. An increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) owing to inflammatory condition has also been found in these patients and thus antioxidant properties of Se via glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity are of great importance. Concentrations of Se in plasma and erythrocytes as well as eryth-rocyte GPx activity in 22 intrinsic asthma patients (five patients; all women were aspirin-sensitive) were compared with those of 33 control subjects. Se concentrations in both plasma and erythrocytes and GPx activity were decreased in intrinsic asthma patients. There were no significant differences in investigated parameters of Se status between aspirin-tolerant and aspirin-intolerant patients within intrinsic asthma group. Significantly high positive correlation between plasma and erythrocyte Se concentrations was found when regarding all subjects as a whole. Se supplementation might be beneficial to patients with intrinsic asthma, which may be at risk of Se deficiency.     

Alteration of trace element distribution and testis ACE activity in mice with high peritoneal aluminum

The present investigation was conducted to assess the effects of subacute aluminum (Al) exposure on testicular zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) distribution in mice. Animals were intraperitoneally exposed to 0, 13, or 35 mg Al/kg body weight/d for a period of 14 d. Al concentrations in serum and testis in Al-treated animals were significantly higher than those of controls. The serum concentrations of Fe were lower, whereas serum Zn and Cu showed a pattern comparable to that of controls. The accumulation of testicular Fe and Cu remarkably increased in Al-exposed groups, whereas the Zn concentration in testis was significantly reduced only at the highest dose of Al exposure. The values of testicular thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were also increased after Al administration, indicating increased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. In addition, when the testicular Al was increased, the testis-specific angiotensin-converting enzyme (testis ACE) was noted. The results of this study indicated that part of the effect of Al intoxication on testis might contribute to abnormal metabolism of other minerals, such as Fe, Zn, and/or Cu. It was also suggested that reduced testis ACE activity presumably plays an important role in oxidative damage of Al-induced testicular toxicity.     

Long-term zinc and iron supplementation in children of short stature: effect of growth and on trace element content in tissues.

We evaluated the effect of one year of supplementation with iron plus zinc (12 mg/day of Fe+++ and 12.5 mg/day of Zn++), zinc alone (12.5 mg/day of Zn++) and placebo on growth and on the iron, zinc, copper and selenium tissue contents in 30 well-selected children of short stature (16 M and 14 F; 4-11 years old). Before and after supplementation, we measured the concentrations of iron, transferrin, ferritin, zinc and copper in serum, of zinc in erythrocytes and leukocytes, and of zinc, copper and selenium in hair, as well as glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes. Before supplementation, ferritin and serum, erythrocyte and hair zinc contents were significantly lower than in age-matched controls, while the other measured indices were in the normal range. Iron plus zinc supplementation caused an improvement in growth rate in all subjects, i.e., the median Z-score increased from -2.22 +/- 0.45 to -0.64 +/- 0.55; (p < 0.01). In the zinc-supplemented group, only the subjects whose ferritin levels were higher than 20 ng/L before supplementation showed a similar improvement of growth rate. Iron plus zinc supplementation could be a reasonable treatment in short, prepubertal children affected by marginal zinc and iron deficiency.     

Hypophosphatemia Induced by Dietary Aluminium Hydroxide Supplementation in Pigs: Effects on growth,blood variables,organ weights and renal morphology

Twenty-four pigs, 13-14 weeks of age, were studied during an experimental period of 10 weeks. The pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups. Two groups were fed a commercial feed supplemented either with a suspension of aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)3) or aluminium phosphate (A1PO4). The third group served as a control. The same total amount of aluminium was given to each of the 2 experimental groups. After three weeks the Al(OH)3-pigs developed severe hypophosphatemia, with an average decrease in serum phosphate of 60%, a decreased growth rate and a lower concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the erythrocytes as compared to controls. Intense hypercalcemia developed in the Al(OH)3-group during the first 6 weeks, whereas the AlPO4-pigs and the control group developed neither hypophosphatemia nor hypercalcemia. At necropsy, the consequence of the long lasting hypophosphatemia was found to be increased relative kidney weights with morphological signs of tubular damage and dyscalcification. No similar changes were observed in the AlPO4-groups and there were no organ weight deviations compared to the control group.     

Breathing during exercise in subjects with mild-to-moderate airflow obstruction: effects of physical training.

In this study we explored the effects of physical training on the response of the respiratory system to exercise. Eight subjects with irreversible mild-to-moderate airflow obstruction [forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 85 +/- 14 (SD) % of predicted and ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity of 68 +/- 5%] and six normal subjects with similar anthropometric characteristics underwent a 2-mo physical training period on a cycle ergometer three times a week for 31 min at an intensity of approximately 80% of maximum heart rate. At this work intensity, tidal expiratory flow exceeded maximal flow at control functional residual capacity [FRC; expiratory flow limitation (EFL)] in the obstructed but not in the normal subjects. An incremental maximum exercise test was performed on a cycle ergometer before and after training. Training improved exercise capacity in all subjects, as documented by a significant increase in maximum work rate in both groups (P < 0.001). In the obstructed subjects at the same level of ventilation at high workloads, FRC was greater after than before training, and this was associated with an increase in breathing frequency and a tendency to decrease tidal volume. In contrast, in the normal subjects at the same level of ventilation at high workloads, FRC was lower after than before training, so that tidal volume increased and breathing frequency decreased. These findings suggest that adaptation to breathing under EFL conditions does not occur during exercise in humans, in that obstructed subjects tend to increase FRC during exercise after experiencing EFL during a 2-mo strenuous physical training period.     

Trait anxiety, submaximal physical exercise and blood androgens

This study evaluates the relationship between trait anxiety and both androgen and gonadotrophic hormone levels at rest and during severe physical exercise. Twelve volunteers were selected among 160 untrained male collegial students and classified as anxious (N = 6) or non-anxious (N = 6) subjects according to their scores on three trait-anxiety tests (STAI, IPAT, 16 PF). Serum delta 4-androgen (testosterone and delta 4-androstenedione), delta 5-androgen (DHEA and DHEA-SO4) and gonadotrophin (LH and FSH) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay before, during and after 20 minutes of intensive bicycle exercise (80% of maximal heart rate). Results indicate significantly lower serum delta 4-androgens in anxious subjects before exercise. However, for each subject and irrespective of his anxiety level, all measured serum androgen concentrations increased significantly during exercise, although delta 4-androstene-dione remained lower in anxious subjects than in non-anxious ones. Serum LH concentrations (but not FSH) were significantly higher in anxious subjects throughout the observation periods. However, exercise induced in each subject a significant decrease in the serum level of both gonadotrophic hormones. The results suggest that trait anxiety level may constitute an important factor that affects both pre-exercise and exercise serum androgen concentrations in untrained subjects.     

Red blood cells under mechanical stress

The effect of mechanical stress on erythrocytes suspended in various media was studied. The ability of the cells to increase their glucose consumption was found to be the major criterion allowing to divide the media into two groups. In plasma, serum or in Ringer's solution supplemented with albumin and glucose the energy consumption by mechanically stressed erythrocytes increased 20 to 50%; no morphological changes of the cells were observed either in suspension or on Giemsa smears. The cells behaved in the same way in Mg2(+)-free medium. The other group included protein-free medium (Ringer's solution supplemented with glucose) and Ca2(+)-free Ringer's solution supplemented with albumin and glucose; under these conditions erythrocytes were unable to raise their energy consumption in response to mechanical stress, and after some period structural impairment of the membrane could be observed on Giemsa smears. No differences in metabolism-associated nucleotide concentrations (ATP, ADP, NAD, NADP) were observed between the samples. Resealed red cell ghosts with high concentrations of intracellular components were prepared as a model of cells with damaged membrane. In these ghosts (with low ATP concentration) mechanical stress produced increased proportions of echinocytes, even in the "native" suspension. These results have confirmed the vital role of the energy-consuming contractile apparatus in the erythrocyte membrane, and supplied a clue to the role of Ca2+ in its activation and to the influence of extracellular proteins on the maintenance of in red cell shape.     

Induction of hyperphenylalaninemia in mice by ethionine and phenylalanine

Female NMRI mice were fed diets containing l-ethionine (0.1 and 0.3% w/w) and phenylalanine (3% w/w), as well as respective control diets. Ethionine, the S-ethylated analog of methionine, was shown to inhibit phenylalanine hydroxylase in vivo, whereby in vitro kinetics remained unaffected. Treatment with ethionine resulted in fatty liver, reduced ATP content of liver, and alterations in serum amino acid concentrations. In the high dosage ethionine group, for instance, concentrations of Ala, Gly, Ser, Met, and Phe were increased whereas concentrations of Lys, Asp, and Pro were decreased. Applying ethionine together with phenylalanine resulted in hyperphenylalaninemia and phenylketonuria. Feeding phenylalanine alone also led to decreased activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase and increased concentration of Phe in serum. Ethionine only had a minimal effect on body weight gain; however, the hyperphenylalaninemic condition induced by application of the high dosage of ethionine and phenylalanine induced severe loss of body weight. A disturbed protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation might be the underlying mechanism of ethionine-induced suppression of phenylalanine hydroxylase.     

Hormonal and immunological changes in blood and mammary secretion in the sow at parturition

The purpose of the present study was to record possible variations of estradiol-17 beta (E2) and cortisol concentrations, and parameters related to granulocyte phagocytosis in mammary secretions from healthy sows at parturition. The study was comprised 8 primiparous sows (Landrace x Yorkshire). Blood and mammary secretion samples were collected twice daily from 3 d before (only blood) until 3 d after farrowing. Estradiol-17 beta and cortisol concentrations were determined in plasma and in cell-depleted skimmed mammary secretions. Phagocytic capacity of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) was assessed in whole blood and in cell suspensions derived from mammary secretions. Opsonic activity was assessed in serum and in cell-depleted skimmed mammary secretions. The 2 assays were based on chemiluminescence. Estradiol-17 beta concentration in plasma decreased (P < 0.001) directly after parturition. In skimmed secretions, the highest E2 concentration was recorded in the first sample after parturition and decreased (P < 0.01) thereafter. The highest cortisol concentration in plasma was recorded in the evening before parturition (P < 0.01). In skimmed secretions, there was no significant variation in cortisol concentration. The concentrations of both steroid hormones were lower in mammary secretions than in plasma. The phagocytic capacity of PMN in blood and mammary secretion, expressed as peak chemiluminescence per PMN, showed no significant change. This was also true for the opsonic activity in serum. In skimmed secretions the opsonic activity increased (P < 0.01) after parturition. These data emphasize the differences between plasma and mammary secretion concentrations of steroid hormones as well as between systemic and mammary gland immune competence. Regarding the phagocytosis process in mammary secretions, the part directly related to the PMN function seemed not to be altered at parturition compared with later on in lactation, whereas the part related to opsonic activity seemed to be impaired at parturition. The latter may play a role in the development of coliform mastitis at this time.     

Copper and zinc concentrations and the activities of ceruloplasmin and superoxide dismutase in atherosclerosis obliterans

The relationships among concentrations of copper and zinc, the oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin (Cp) in serum, and Cu,Zn-SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity in erythrocytes were investigated in men with atherosclerosis obliterans (AO) and a control group. The oxidase activity of Cp was measured with o-dianisidine dihydrochloride as a substrate, and Cu,Zn-SOD activity in erythrocytes by using the RANSOD kit. The lipid profile and uric acid concentration were determined in AO and control groups. The results showed higher copper and zinc concentrations in serum in the AO group (20.0±3.5 and 18.0±3.2 μmol/L, respectively) in comparison with the control group (15.6±2.3 and 14.7±1.9 μmol/L). The Cp activity in serum was higher in the AO group (174.2±61.8 U/L) than in the control group (93.7±33.9 U/L), and a significant difference was found in the activity of Cu,Zn-SOD in erythrocytes (2389±1396 and 1245±365 U/g Hb, respectively) between both groups. The activity of Cu,Zn-SOD was positively correlated with copper in the control group (r=0.73), but not in AO, and negatively with uric acid concentration (r=−0.63) in the AO group. The oxidase activity of Cp was correlated with copper, but not zinc, in AO and control groups (r≥0.65). Negative correlation coefficients were calculated for uric acid and copper and zinc concentrations in the AO group (−r≥0.61). Increased copper concentrations and oxidase activity of Cp in serum in AO and the activity of Cu,Zn-SOD in erythrocytes could result from atherosclerotic disease, accompanied by chronic ischemia of a lower limb. These results suggest also that relationship between copper concentration and Cu,Zn-SOD activity in erythrocytes found in the serum of healthy subjects may be disturbed in pathologic conditions.     

The features of lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant system of blood under the influence of different concentrations of nitric oxide in a chronic experiment

This paper presents the results of the study of oxidative metabolism of the blood of intact animals subjected to prolonged exposure to nitric oxide at concentrations of 20, 50, and 100 ppm. The experiment was carried out with Wistar rats. NO inhalation was performed for 30 days. The state of blood oxidative metabolism was evaluated after inhalation and a 30-day-long recovery period after discontinuation of NO oxidative stress. The intensity of lipid peroxidation was studied in plasma and erythrocytes by induced biochemiluminescence and the measurement of the level of malondialdehyde. The activity of superoxide dismutase was determined in the hemolysate of erythrocytes. It was established that the optimal dose of inhaled NO is 20 ppm: a maximum increase in the total antioxidant activity after 30 days and normalization of lipid peroxidation in the blood after the completion of the recovery period were observed at this concentration. High concentrations of nitric oxide (50 and 100 ppm) initiated lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes and plasma after discontinuation of NO oxidative stress (after the completion of the recovery period) thus enhancing catalytic properties of superoxide dismutase.     

Study of the indices of antioxidant defense in mental maladaptation

Changes in the balance of the pro- and antioxidant systems were studied in patients with mental maladaptation induced by emotional stress. We found activation of lipid peroxidation associated with accumulation of malondialdehyde in erythrocytes and blood serum of the subjects. The activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes in patients with mental stress increased, whereas the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase significantly decreased as compared to the group of healthy individuals. Comparative chemiluminescent analysis of the blood serum revealed a decrease in general antioxidant properties of the blood in the groups studied after mental stress.     

In situ profiling of adipokines in subcutaneous microdialysates from lean and obese individuals

Adipose tissue (AT) had emerged as an endocrine organ and a key regulator of the metabolically triggered inflammation. The aims of this study were 1) to investigate the usefulness of a multiplexed bioassay in characterizing a panel of adipokines in subcutaneous (sc) microdialysate samples and 2) to determine whether lean and obese individuals differ in their interstitial adipokines levels following microdialysis (MD) probe insertion. Ultrafiltrating MD membranes were inserted in opposite sites of the sc abdominal AT of six lean (L) and six obese (OB) males at the beginning (M1) and during the last 120 min (M2) of the study. Interstitial and serum concentrations of adipokines were quantified using the Luminex technique and ELISA at 60-min intervals for 5 h. In comparison with L subjects, OB subjects exhibited elevated interstitial leptin (P < 0.001), IL-8 (P < 0.05), and IL-18 levels (P = 0.05), as well as higher serum concentrations of leptin (P < 0.0001), IL-6 (P < 0.0001), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.001), IL-8 (P = 0.01) and interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (P < 0.05). In samples from the M1 membranes, leptin decreased and IL-1alpha, IL-18, and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) remained relatively stable, whereas IL-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 significantly increased after the first hour (P < 0.0001 vs. baseline). Notably, either the magnitude of increase from the initial values or the time pattern of all the adipokines in M1 and M2 dialysates were similar between the groups. In conclusion, the current work provides valuable information on the optimal time frame to collect in situ AT microdialysate samples. Further studies are needed, however, to unravel the intricate interplay of cytokines in AT interstitial fluid.