Effect of six weeks of endurance exercise and following detraining on serum brain derived neurotrophic factor and memory performance in middle aged males with metabolic syndrome.

AIM: Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and physical inactivity contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Aerobic training has been reported to improve MetS, however less attention has been directed toward the role of training and detraining on cognitive function in MetS. METHODS: Twenty one healthy middle-aged males and 21 with MetS were distributed into four groups: MetS exercise (ME), MetS control (MC), Healthy exercise (HE) and healthy control (HC). Both ME and HE, followed a 6-week aerobic training program (3 sessions/week). Digit Span memory test and blood sampling were conducted pre training, post training and also following a six weeks detraining. Data were analyzed using spearman, pearson and repeated measure ANOVA tests. RESULTS: Baseline serum BDNF level was positively correlated with waist circumference (r=0.383, P=0.012) and showed significant elevation in MetS compared with healthy subjects (1101.66±61.34 vs. 903.72±46.57 pg/mL, P=0.014). After aerobic exercise BDNF level significantly increased in HE, but decreased in ME group (P=0.001). Both short and mid term memory significantly increased (P<0.05) only in HE group. CONCLUSION: Exercise induced cognitive improvement might be mediated via BDNF-linked mechanisms in healthy people. However, the health status of individuals should be considered.

Effects of aerobic exercise training on visceral fat and serum adiponectin concentration in ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on visceral fat and adiponectin levels in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHOD: Female Wistar rats were divided into OVX (n = 20) and sham-operated control (SHAM; n = 8) groups. OVX rats were subdivided into a sedentary (OVX-SED; n = 10) and an exercise (OVX-EX; n = 10) group. The exercise consisted of 8 weeks of aerobic exercise (26 m/min, 5 days/week, 60 min/day, 10% slope). RESULTS: In OVX rats, body weight was 21% greater (255.2 +/- 9.31 vs. 211.63 +/- 3.23; p < 0.01) and visceral fat was 29% greater (10.87 +/- 0.66 vs. 8.43 +/- 0.45; p < 0.05) than in SHAM rats. After training, visceral fat was 20% lower in OVX-EX rats than in OVX-SED rats (8.72 +/- 0.46 vs. 10.87 +/- 0.66; p < 0.05). After 8 weeks of running on the treadmill, levels of serum glucose, insulin and serum adiponectin, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were not changed significantly in the OVX-EX group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 8-week exercise training induces a decrease in visceral fat, and this reduction without weight loss does not change serum adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity in ovariectomized rats.

Effect of vitamin C supplementation on lipid peroxidation, muscle damage and inflammation after 30-min exercise at 75% VO2max.

AIM: Hypothetically, supplementation with the antioxidant vitamins C could alleviate exercise-induced lipid peroxidation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin C supplementation on exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, muscle damage and inflammation. METHODS: Sixteen healthy untrained male volunteers participated in a 30-min exercise at 75% Vo2max. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) placebo and 2) vitamin C (VC: 1 000 mg vitamin C). Blood samples were obtained prior to supplementation (baseline), 2 h after supplementation (immediately pre-exercise), post-exercise, 2 and 24 h after exercise. Plasma levels of VC, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), creatine kinase (CK), malondealdehyde (MDA), total leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol were measured. RESULTS: Plasma vitamin C concentrations increased significantly in the VC in response to supplementation and exercise (P<0.05). TAC decreased significantly in Placebo group 24 h after exercise compared to pre-exercise (P<0.05). Although MDA levels were similar between groups at baseline, it increased significantly 2 h after exercise only in the Placebo group (P<0.05). CK increased immediately and 2 h after exercise in both groups and 24 h after exercise only in placebo group compared to pre-exercise (P<0.05). Markers of inflammation (total leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts and IL-6) were increased significantly in response to the exercise (P<0.05). In VC group, there was significant increase in lymphocyte counts immediately after exercise compared with pre-exercise (P<0.05). Serum cortisol concentrations significantly declined after supplementation compared with baseline (P<0.05) as well as declined 2 and 24 h after exercise compared with immediately after exercise in VC group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: VC supplementation prevented endurance exercise-induced lipid peroxidation and muscle damage but had no effect on inflammatory markers.

[c-fos Gene expression in the brain of rats with various exploratory and defensive behavior]. / Osobennosti ékspressii gena fos v mozge krys s razlichnym issledovatel'skim i oboronitel'nym povedeniem.

Groups of active and passive Wistar rats were revealed in the "open field" and "hole exploration" tests. The pronounced c-fos gene expression was found in different brain structures of rats preliminary subjected to electrodermal stimulation in the "step down" test. Marked differences in c-fos gene expression were observed in brain structures of rats with the active and passive behavior in the "open field", "hole exploration", and "step down" tests. The most pronounced and intensive c-fos gene expression was noticed in the passive rats.