Exercise attenuates alveolar bone loss and anxiety-like behaviour in rats with periodontitis.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of physical training on inflammatory and behavioural parameters of Wistar rats with periodontal disease (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty four animals were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial design (with and without exercise, with and without PD). Trained animals swimmed one hour daily during 8 weeks. PD was induced by ligature 14 days before the end of experiment, and in the last week, all animals were submitted to the Marble Burying Test. Histomorphometric analyses of the mandibles and expression of cytokines were conducted by Western blotting. We also evaluated the morphometry of hippocampal astrocytes using anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody. RESULTS: Physical training attenuated bone loss and epithelial attachment loss levels of rats with PD. Trained animals with PD presented lower TNF-α expression in periodontal tissues while IL-10 was increased. TNF-α/IL-10 ratio was lower in trained animals with PD compared to those with induced periodontitis. PD increased anxiety-like behaviour, and physical training attenuated this parameter. Exercise increased the ramifications of hippocampal astrocytes in rats without PD. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise decreased anxiety behaviour, inflammatory proteins expression and bone loss in rats with PD.

Effects of six weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic physical training on metabolic and body parameters of Wistar rats: a pilot study

Physical training in animal models promotes changes that can be extrapolated to humans, due to physiological similarities between these species. Thus, the use of rodents submitted to exercise becomes feasible due to the possibility of analyzing variables that would not be admissible in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of six weeks of swimming, at moderate intensity, on physical and physiological parameters of Wistar rats. Twelve animals were divided into two groups (trained and non-trained). The trained animals were subjected to six weeks of aerobic training in water with 5% of body weight load. The results between groups were compared by the t test (p < 0.05). The variation in body weight was lower in the trained groups. Food and water consumption were higher in the animals submitted to physical training. The relative weight of heart and kidney were higher in trained animals, with no differences in the liver and gastrocnemius relative weight. The gastrocnemius muscle fiber diameter did not differ between groups. The training promoted an increase in the percentage of protein in the carcass and a decrease in body fat percentage, as well as in the diameter of the epididymal region adipocytes. Additionally, the training promoted increased levels of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL-C) and decreased levels of Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL-C) and triacylglycerols (TAG). It was concluded that six weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic training is sufficient to promote improvements in the metabolic profile, weight control, and reduce body fat and increase the protein content in the carcass of rats

El entrenamiento físico en un modelo animal promueve cambios que se pueden extrapolar a los seres humanos, debido a las similitudes fisiológicas entre estas especies. El uso de roedores sujetos a ejercicio se vuelve factible debido a la posibilidad de analizar variables que no serían aceptables en los seres humanos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de seis semanas de natación a una intensidad moderada en parámetros corporales y fisiológicos de ratas Wistar. Fueron divididos doce animales en dos grupos (entrenados y no entrenados). Las ratas entrenadas fueron sometidas a seis semanas de entrenamiento aeróbico en un medio acuático con una carga relativa a un 5% de su peso corporal. Los resultados entre los grupos se compararon por t-test de student (p < 0,05). La variación de la ganancia de peso corporal fue menor en los animales entrenados. El consumo de agua y alimentos fue mayor en los animales del grupo sometidos a entrenamiento. El peso relativo del corazón y de los riñones fue mayor en los animales entrenados, sin diferencias en el peso relativo del hígado gastrocnemio. El diámetro de las fibras del musculo no difirió entre los grupos. El entrenamiento provoco un aumento en el porcentaje de proteína en la carcasa y una disminución en el porcentaje de grasa corporal, así como en el diámetro de los adipocitos de la región del epidídimo. Además, el entrenamiento provoco un aumento de los niveles de lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL-C) y una disminución de los niveles de lipoproteína de baja densidad (LDL-C) y triacilgliceridos (TAG). Se concluye que seis semanas de entrenamiento aeróbico a una intensidad moderada es suficiente para promover mejoras en el perfil metabólico, control de peso, reducir la grasa corporal y aumentar el contenido de proteínas en la carcasa de las ratas