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Heme oxygenase (HO) is an essential, rate-limiting protein which catalyses the breakdown of heme to iron, carbon monoxide (CO), and biliverdin. The alpha methene bridge of the heme is eliminated as CO which can be measured as blood carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb). Using blood concentrations of COHb as a measure reflecting HO activity, we tested the postulate that the activity of HO changes with exercise. Ten healthy, nonsmoking volunteers (5 females and 5 males with a mean age +/- standard deviation of 25.7 +/- 3.2 years), lifetime nonsmokers with no history of respiratory diseases and not taking any medication, were included in the study. Subjects were exposed to filtered air for 2hrs while alternating exercise for 15minutes on a cycle ergometer with rest for 15minutes. Workload was adjusted so that subjects breathed at a ventilatory rate, normalised for body surface area, of 25L/m(2)/minute. Immediately before, immediately after, and the day following exercise, blood was drawn by standard venipuncture technique. COHb was determined using the interleukin (IL) 682 Co-Oximeter (Instrumentation Laboratory, Bedford, MA). COHb increased in each participant during the exercise session with the mean value (+/- standard deviation) almost doubling (1.1 +/- 1.6 to 2.1 +/- 1.6%) and returned to baseline by the following day (1.3 +/- 1.3%). We conclude that exercise increases HO activity.