Acute effects of moderate and strenuous running on trace element distribution in the brain, liver, and spleen of trained rats.

OBJECTIVE: Trace elements such as manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) play key roles in metabolic reactions and are important in many physiological enzymatic processes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the acute effects of moderate and strenuous running (treadmill) exercise on the levels of Mn, Co and Cr in the brain, liver, and spleen of trained rats. STUDY DESIGN: Animal experiment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one Wistar-Albino adult male rats were used in the study. Rats were grouped as control group (no mandated exercise; n=8), moderate exercise group (30 min exercise duration; n=7), and strenuous exercise group (60 min exercise duration; n=6). The levels of Mn, Co, and Cr in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, brain stem, liver, and spleen were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Cr levels in liver of rats increased in parallel to the time course of running supporting the exercise training effect on the action of insulin. Compared to the control group, the level of Co significantly decreased in the brain stem of rats in the moderate exercise group (p=0.009) and in the frontal lobe of rats in the strenuous exercise group (p=0.004). In the strenuous exercise group, an examination of the brain stem revealed that the level of Mn significantly decreased (p=0.001), and levels of Co and Cr were apparently depleted to the extent that these elements were no longer detectable. CONCLUSION: A notable finding is that during or after single bout strenuous exercise, levels of Co decreased in the spleen and particularly decreased in the brain stem of regularly trained rats. From this study, it can be inferred that sportsmen should aware trace element disturbances among the body parts or depletion of some trace elements after single bout of chronic strenuous running exercise.

Propolis prevents the effects of chronic alcohol intake on ocular tissues.

AIM: This study is designed to investigate the protective effects of propolis in ocular tissues against chronic alcohol exposure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Rats were divided into 4 groups, and each group was fed a special liquid diet which contained an equal amount of calories. The control group was fed the liquid special diet without alcohol and propolis. We added propolis (150 mg/kg) to the diet of the second group. The diet of the third group contained alcohol, the concentration of which was increased progressively. The fourth group was fed a diet including propolis and alcohol. To counterbalance caloric intake, we decreased the amount of glucose in the special liquid diet for groups 3 and 4. At the end of 30 days, the animals were sacrificed and samples were kept at -80 degrees C until evaluation. Specimens were investigated by light microscopy for morphology and morphometry. RESULTS: In the histological investigation of ocular tissues, alcohol caused an increase in thickness of the cornea and corneal epithelium compared to the control group (p < 0.05). This incremental tendency was significantly reduced by propolis, and values were very close to those of the control group (p > 0.05). Alcohol did not cause any significant alteration of rat retinal thickness. CONCLUSION: This study showed that propolis is highly effective against corneal edema secondary to chronic alcohol intake.

Correlations between event-related potential components and nitric oxide in maximal anaerobic exercise among sportsmen trained at various levels.

Physical exercise has influence on all organs except its effects on the central nervous system have not been fully elucidated. This study attempts to determine whether the degree of training could affect the response to physical stress by comparing the three groups of males in different levels of the physical fitness. Serum samples from high (n = 11), moderate (n = 10), and low physical activity sportsmen (n = 10) were collected to determine nitrite/nitrate levels before and after carrying out an anaerobic maximal exercise test. An "oddball paradigm" of auditory stimuli was used to evoke the N200 and P300 before and after the exercise. The amplitude of the N200 decreased significantly after anaerobic maximal exercise compared to the values of the recorded pre-exercise at Fz area in high physical activity group. There was a negative correlation between event-related potentials component and both nitrite/nitrate serum level changes and the heart rate changes in low physical activity subjects. However, in high and moderate physical activity groups, these relationships were positive.