Exercise-induced leucocytosis in some healthy adult Nigerians

Abstract

The effect of exercise on circulating leucocytes with regards to changes in total and differential counts was studied in 25 adult Nigerians of both sexes. All subjects exercised on a bicycle ergometer till exhaustion. A significant (p<0.001) leucocytosis occurred immediately after the exercise with the predominant increase being lymphocytes. There was significant (p<0.01) eosinopenia and neutropenia in females. Basophilopenia was however significant (p<0.01) in the males but not in females. A significant (p<0.01) post-exercise monocytopenia was observed in the females but not in the males. This study demonstrates a marked leucocytosis due to lymphocytosis, and a decrease in the number of granulocytes and monocytes. The post-exercise lymphocytosis observed may be due to increased secretion of catecholamines, decreased adherence of leucocytes to the endothelium and massive influx of lymphocytes into the circulation from the lymphatic vessels.

L’effect de l’exercice physique sur les globules blanc circulant dans le sang vis a vis de la variation de leur quantite’ totale et de leur pourcentage etait etudie chez 25 adultes Nigerians des deux sexes. Tous les patients s’exercaient sur une bicycelette ergonometrique Jusqu’la l’epuisement. Un delicie significantif (P<0.001) en leucocytes affaraissait immediatement apres reduction en oesinophiles et neutrophiles chez les femmes. Une neduction en basophiles etait cepedant significative (P<0.001) chez les Hommes mais pas chez les femmes. Une neduction significative (P<0.001) en monocytes etait dservee chez les femmes mais pas chez les Hommes. cette etude demontre une neduction accentuee de globules blancs (leucocytes) due a la uduction deslymphocyte et une neduction du nombre de granulocytes et de monocytes. La reduction du nombre de globules blancs apres l’ exercice physique pourrait etre due a’ l’augmentatiion en secretion de catecholamines et a la reduction d’ adherance des leulocytes a l’endothelium et a’ l’ afflux massif des lymphocytes en circulation dans les vaisseaux lymphatiques.