Figure 2

In vitro cholesterol efflux from macrophage foam cells towards plasma from sedentary (SED) and exercising mice (RUN). Efflux experiments were performed using primary mouse peritoneal macrophages and 1% plasma from the respective mice as detailed in materials and methods. Running wheels were continuously present in the cage, however, running activity occurred almost exclusively at night during the dark cycle. In order to determine, if changes in cholesterol efflux might be short-term effects occuring directly after the running period, plasma from mice bled in the morning immediately after running (AM) and bled directly before the dark cycle after rest during the day (PM) was compared separately. Data are given as means ± SD; n = 6 each for SED AM and PM; n = 9 for RUN PM; n = 8 for RUN AM; n = 12 for SED ALL and n = 17 for RUN ALL. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.