Comparative study of radioprotective effects of endurance training in irradiation-induced nephropathy of rat model.

OBJECTIVES: Considering the antioxidant properties of endurance training, this study aimed to investigate the effects of endurance training on serum levels of oxidative stress and structural changes in the kidney tissue of rats exposed to X-ray irradiation. METHODS: In this experimental study, 24 rats weighing 220±20 g were randomly divided into four groups (healthy control, healthy with moderate-intensity continuous training, X-ray control, and X-ray with moderate-intensity continuous training). The two groups of rats were irradiated with 4 Gy X-rays. The two training groups also performed moderate-intensity continuous training for 10 weeks. Twenty-four hour after the last training session, the blood serum of rats was collected and kidney tissue was isolated for stereological studies. RESULTS: In this study, X-ray irradiation of the whole body of rats caused a significant increase in kidney volume, cortex volume, interstitial tissue volume, glomerular volume, and serum level of MDA (p≤0.05), but the medulla volume, volume of proximal tubules (total volume, volume of epithelium, and lumen), volume of distal tubules (total volume, volume of epithelium, and lumen), and the length of the proximal and distal tubules had no effect. In addition, TAC and SOD levels were significantly decreased in the radiation control group. Furthermore, performing endurance training in X-ray-irradiated rats significantly reduced kidney volume, cortex volume, glomerular volume, and serum MDA level (p≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-intensity continuous training can improve the rate of destruction of kidney tissue in rats exposed to X-rays by reducing oxidative stress and subsequently increasing antioxidant capacity.

The effect of resistance training on serum levels of sex hormones and sperm quality in male rats under X-ray radiation.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate the effects of resistance training on sex hormones and sperm parameters in male rats under X-ray. METHODS: In this experimental study, 24 Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g) were randomly assigned into four groups: healthy control, irradiated control, healthy training and irradiated training. Irradiation was induced at a dose of 4 Gy on the whole body. The resistance training protocol was performed for 10 weeks. Finally, blood serum was used to assess FSH, LH and testosterone and sperm quality. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: The results showed that radiation significantly reduced serum levels of LH (p=0.42), FSH (p=0.001) and testosterone (p=0.28) between radiation control and healthy control groups. Also, no significant difference was observed between serum levels of LH (p=0.135) and testosterone (p=0.419) in radiation resistance training and the healthy control groups. In addition, significant differences were observed between radiation resistance training and radiation control groups in sperm parameters such as sperm count (p=0.02) and progressively motile sperm (p=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that short-term resistance training can improve sperm parameters, including sperm count and sperm motility through increasing serum levels testosterone and LH in male rat under X-ray.

Does a Course of Aerobic Training Affect the Inflammatory Status and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors of Hookah-smoker Women? Results of a Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Hookah consumption is a major risk factor for inflammation and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two-month aerobic training on metabolic profile and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in hookah-smoker women. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design, 22 hookah-smoker women (at least twice a week) matched in terms of age (27.82 ± 3.81 years) and body mass index (BMI) (26.66 ± 5.92 kg/m2) were recruited and randomly divided into two groups of smokers + aerobic exercise (n = 11) and smokers (n = 11). A matched control group of non-smoker women (n = 10, age: 27.11 ± 2.71 years, BMI: 26.20 ± 2.39 kg/m2) were also recruited for baseline comparison. The aerobic exercise program was performed three days a week, 35-50 minutes a day for 8 weeks. The smokers' group were asked to continue their normal lives. Serum levels of CRP and metabolic risk factors were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings: At baseline, non-smoker participants had significantly better CRP level (P = 0.001) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) (P = 0.020) than hookah-smoker women. After 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, no significant change was observed in the lipid profile of hookah-smoker women (P > 0.050). Simultaneously, body weight (P = 0.030), VO2max (P = 0.001), and CRP levels (P = 0.010) improved significantly in response to aerobic exercise. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a course of aerobic exercise program improves the aerobic fitness of hookah-smoker women. This improvement is associated with reduction of CRP without significant changes in plasma lipid profile.

Aerobic training mitigates the negative impact of diabetes on fertility.

Diabetes negatively affects the reproductive system. This present study investigated the effects of aerobic training on protamine 1 and 2 mRNA expression, sex hormones, antioxidant defence and sperm quality in diabetic rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into three groups including diabetic training (DT) group, diabetic (D) group and control (C) group. Rats in DT were exercised 5 times per week for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected for evaluation of sex hormones 48 h after the last training session. Also, the testes were removed and subjected to histological evaluation and semen analysis. Testicular mRNA expressions of protamines were determined by RT-qPCR. Protamines 1 and 2, and the ratio of protamine 1 to protamine 2 were significantly lower in DT and D groups compared with C group (p < 0.01). LH and testosterone levels were significantly lower in D group compared with DT and C group (p < 0.01). Malondialdehyde was significantly lower in DT and C groups compared with D group (p < 0.001). Sperm parameters were significantly lower in D group compared with C group (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that aerobic training may mitigate the negative impact of diabetes on sex hormones, oxidative stress, protamine content and sperm parameters in male rats.

A comparative study of the antidiabetic effect of two training protocols in streptozotocin-nicotinamide diabetic rats.

Background Physical inactivity is the major risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of resistance training and endurance training on diabetic-related metabolic parameters in diabetic rats. Materials and methods Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups of six rats each: control group (C), diabetic group (D), resistance training group (RES) and endurance training group (END). T2D was induced intraperitoneally using nicotinamide (120 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg). The training period was 70 days. The irisin, betatrophin, insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipid profiles were measured in the serum of all rats. Results Diabetes significantly increased serum levels of FBG (p < 0.001), which were decreased significantly after the administration of training (p < 0.001). Training administration had a significant effect in normalizing serum lipid profiles (p < 0.001) and it was shown to increase the serum levels of irisin, betatrophin (p < 0.001) and insulin (END: p < 0.001 and resistance training: p < 0.05). It was also found that the endurance training was more effective in improving this parameters when compared with resistance training (p < 0.05). In addition, the irisin revealed a significant positive association with betatrophin (END: p < 0.01 and resistance training: p < 0.05) and insulin (END: p < 0.01 and RES: p < 0.05) values in diabetic groups. Conclusion This study demonstrated that endurance training was more effective in diabetic related metabolic derangement compared with resistance training. This effect is probably due to better regulation of irisin, betatrophin and insulin relative to resistance training.

The Effect of Aerobic Training on Serum Levels of Adiponectin, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis and Sperm Quality in Diabetic Rats.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to investigate the effects of aerobic training on adiponectin, sex hormones, and sperm parameters in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the experiment, 52 eight-week-old Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g) were randomly assigned into three groups: healthy control, diabetic control, and diabetic aerobic training. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of nicotinamide solution and STZ solution. The aerobic training protocol was performed for ten weeks. Finally, blood serum was used to assess FSH, LH, testosterone and adiponectin levels. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test using SPSS-22 software at 0.05 level of significance. RESULTS: Results showed an increase in serum adiponectin levels in aerobic training group, which let to a significant difference between aerobic training group and diabetic control group (3.8±1.1 ?vs 1.6±0.6, P = .42). In addition, aerobic training caused significant increases in serum testosterone level and LH in diabetic aerobic training group, so that significant differences were observed between serum testosterone (5.7±2.3 vs 6.6±1.8, P = .117), LH (4.7±1 vs 5.6±2.8, P = .746) and FSH (5.9±5 vs 4.4±1, P = .596) of diabetic aerobic training group and healthy control group. Sperm parameters in the diabetic aerobic training group including sperm count (26±13.2 vs 11.7±5.7, P = .03, motility (40±6.5%vs 32.5±1.1%, P = .41) and viability (41.7±7.2% vs 29.78±16.2%, P = .000) presented significant differences compared to diabetic control group. CONCLUSION: Short term aerobic training can improve serum adiponectin levels and sperm parameters, including sperm count and sperm motility through increasing serum testosterone, LH and FSH levels in type 2 diabetic rats.

Investigating the effects of endurance, resistance and combined training on reproductive hormones and sperm parameters of streptozotocin-nicotinamide diabetic male rats.

PURPOSE: Diabetes mellitus type 2 with damaging effects on reproductive hormones and sperm quality parameters can often cause infertility in men. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of endurance, resistance and concurrent training on reproductive hormones, sperm parameter in the diabetic type 2 male rats. METHODS: In this experimental study 60 Wistar rats (200 ± 50 g) were randomly assigned into 5 groups: control; diabetic; diabetic endurance training; diabetic resistance training and diabetic concurrent training. For inducing diabetes, after 12 hours of food starvation nicotinamide (120 mg/kg) and STZ (65 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected. Twenty-four hours after the last training session, left epididymis of the rats was examined for studying sperm parameters and blood serum samples were examined for evaluating reproductive hormones. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Turkey's Post Hoc test. RESULTS: Ten weeks of endurance and concurrent training induced significant decrease in the blood glucose in comparison to the diabetic group (P < 0.05). In addition, endurance, resistance and concurrent training induced significant increases in serum testosterone and LH levels in the comparison to the diabetic group (P < 0.005). In addition, sperm parameters revealed significant improvements in compared to the diabetic group (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Endurance, resistance and combined training might improve sperm parameters, including viability and motility of sperms through increasing the serum testosterone and LH levels in rat model of diabetes mellitus type 2.

Twelve-week aerobic training decreases chemerin level and improves cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese men.

PURPOSE: The inflammatory state of adipose tissue in obese subjects may be the most important factor linking increased adipose tissue mass to insulin resistance. Chemerin is a newly discovered adipokine that plays an important role in macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue and may contribute to the development of inflammation and insulin resistance. We examined the effects of 12 weeks of aerobic training on serum chemerin levels in association with cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese males. METHODS: Twenty-one overweight and obese subjects [44.3 (±4.1 yrs, body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m(2)) were assigned to exercise training (obese EX, n= 11) and control (obese CON, n= 10) groups. The obese EX group participated in 12 weeks of progressive aerobic training 5 days a week. Serum chemerin, insulin resistance, lipid profiles, blood pressure, and body composition were all measured before and after the training. RESULTS: After the aerobic training, waist circumference (P=0.009), fat percent (P=0.03), visceral fat (P=0.03), subcutaneous fat (P=0.01), fasting glucose (P=0.01), insulin resistance (P=0.03), triglyceride (P=0.05), total cholesterol (P=0.04), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.05) and systolic blood pressure (P=0.04) of participates were significantly decreased. Concurrently, serum chemerin concentrations were significantly decreased after aerobic program (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Aerobic training caused an improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors in obese subjects, and this improvement was accompanied by decreased chemerin levels.