Does heteropterys aphrodisiaca administration andendurance training alter bones of mature rats?

ABSTRACT

Heteropterys aphrodisiaca infusion, alone or associated with endurance training, was investigated in rat bonesin relation to their mechanical properties, collagen content and morphology. Male rats were divided into fourgroups (n = 8) CS- control sedentary, HS- H. aphrodisiaca sedentary, CT–control trained, HT‑H. aphrodisiacatrained. The training protocol consisted in running on a motorized treadmill, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks,with weekly increase in treadmill velocity and duration. Control groups received water while HS and HTgroups received H. aphrodisiaca infusion (104 mg/animal) by gavage during the 8 weeks. Tibiae werefrozen for collagen dosage and biomechanical analysis or preserved in Karnovsky’s fixative, then processedfor histomorphological analysis by conventional light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. TheHT group showed significantly higher yield load and yield stress in the tibiae three-point bending test. Themaximum load, stiffness, maximum stress and elastic modulus were statistically similar for the experimentalgroups. The hydroxyproline content, morphometrical and stereological data were not significantly differentfor the four groups. Scanning electron microscopy showed more lacunae and Havers canals in the bone oftrained animals, moreover the osteons were more disorganized, when compared with sedentary groups. Thesealterations may indicate that the bone of trained animals was being remodeled. However, after 8 weeks oftraining, it was not possible verify alterations in morphometrical measurements, collagen content, stiffness andmodulus of elasticity of the trained and treated animals.