Expression of metallothionein in renal tubules of rats exposed to acute and endurance exercise.

The induction of exercise-induced apoptosis in not actively involved in exercise organs, such as kidney could be a result of oxidative stress. Metallothionein (MT) exerts a protective effect in the cell against oxidative stress and apoptosis. We have previously demonstrated an increased incidence of apoptosis in distal tubular cells and collecting ducts in rat kidney after acute exercise. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that MT may play a protective role in rat renal tubules against exercise-induced apoptosis after the acute exercise and regular training. Male Wistar rats were divided into control, acute exercised and 8-wk regularly trained groups. The kidneys were removed after a rest period of 6 h and 96 h. The ultrastructure of renal tubular cells was examined by electron microscopy. Apoptosis was detected in paraffin sections by the TUNEL technique. Expression of MT was examined by immunohistochemistry. The level of lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reac...