Abstract
In this study, we determined the effects of 8-week voluntary running exercise on mitogenicity response, production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) of spleen cells in aged mice. Male BALB/c mice (16-month-old) were divided into two groups : a group given voluntary running exercise (exercise group) and a non-exercise group (control group). The applied exercise consisted of spontaneous running in wheels for 3 days per week over 8 weeks. In the exercise group, stimulation indices by concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were significantly higher than they were in the control group. When compared with the control group, the exercise group showed a significant increase in the splenic lymphocyte production of IL-2 stimulated by Con A. The production of IFN-γ stimulated by Con A of the two groups showed no significant differences. These results suggest that 8-week voluntary running exercise effectively enhanced cellular immune functions in aged mice, and that it contributes to the prevention of the immunosenescence.
