Resumen:
BACKGROUND. Mitochondrion is the cellular organelle that produces energy for the organism, generating adenosine triphosphate using O2 and nutrients. Physical capacity levels are thus directly related with mitochondrial activity (1). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number is proportional to the mtDNA volume in a cell, and can be used as a measure of mitochondrial function (2). The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness level and leukocyte relative mtDNA copy number in healthy men. METHODS. 103 healthy men aged between 18-45 divided into two groups: high cardiorespiratory fitness level with VO2max above 55 ml.kg-1.min-1 (Group 1) and low cardiorespiratory fitness level with VO2max below 45 ml.kg-1.min-1 (Group 2). VO2max was measured in a maximal incremental treadmill test a with gas analyser (ULTIMA series, MEDGRAPHICS, cardiorespiratory diagnostic). mtDNA copy number was measured in peripheral blood leukocytes. Blood samples were collected in collection tubes containing EDTA and DNA extraction was obtained using the High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit. The leukocyte relative mtDNA copy number was analysed using a real-time polymerase chain ...