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Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease that is characterized by insulin resistance. Its development is directly connected with the inability of insulin to exert its action, not just on carbohydrate metabolism but also on primarily on lipid metabolism. The present study aimed to compare the effects of continuous, intermittent, and strength training on serum and tissue variables on the lipid metabolism of alloxan rats. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: sedentary alloxan (SA), sedentary control (SC), continuous training alloxan (CA), intermittent training alloxan (IA), strength training alloxan (StA), continuous training control (CC), intermittent training control (IC) and strength training control (StC). Alloxan (250 mg/kg bw) was injected into neonatal rats at 6 days of age. The continuous training protocol consisted of 12 weeks of swimming training for 1 uninterrupted hour / day, five days/ week, supporting a load that was 5% bw. The intermittent training protocol consisted of 12 weeks of swimming training with 30 s of activity interrupted by 30 s of rest, for a total of 20 min/day, five days/ week, supporting a load that was 15% bw. The strength-training protocol consisted of 12 weeks of training, five days/week with 4 sets of 10 jumps in water with 1 min rest between sets, supporting a load that was a 50% bw. Results: At 28 days, the alloxan animals exhibited higher insulin resistance as measured by the disappearance of glucose serum (% Kitt/min) during the ITT. At 120 days, the sedentary alloxan animals showed higher FFA values than continuous and intermittent training alloxan. In addition, the alloxan animals that underwent intermittent and strength training showed lower FFA values compared to the corresponding controls. The continuous training protocol was less effective than the strength training protocol for reducing the levels of total cholesterol in the alloxan animals. Serum total lipid values revealed that intermittent training increased serum levels in alloxan animals Conclusion: Thus, it was concluded that physical training at different intensities of effort is of great importance in attenuation and control of changes in the lipid metabolism in alloxan animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this research was to investigate the alterations in the aerobic capacity and appearance of metabolic alterations in Wistar rats fed on fructose-rich diet. We separated twenty-eight rats into two groups according to diet: a control group (C) (balanced diet) and a fructose-rich diet group (F). The animals were fed these diets for 60 d (d 120 to 180). We performed insulin, glucose as well as a minimum lactate test, at d 120 and 180. At the end of the experiment, sixteen animals were euthanized, and the following main variables were analysed: aerobic capacity, the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, serum and liver triglyceride concentrations, serum and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentrations, serum and liver catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and haematoxylin-eosin histology (HE) in hepatocytes. The remaining twelve animals were submitted to an analysis of their hepatic lipogenic rate. The animals fed a fructose-rich diet exhibited a reduction in aerobic capacity, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and increased concentrations of triglycerides and TBARS in the liver. Catalase and SOD activities were reduced in the livers of the fructose-fed animals. In addition, the serum AST/ALT ratio was higher than that of the C group, which indicates hepatic damage, and the damage was confirmed by histology. In conclusion, the fructose-rich diet caused significant liver damage and a reduction in insulin sensitivity in the animals, which could lead to deleterious metabolic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, metabolic syndrome has become a public health problem throughout the world. Longitudinal studies in humans have several limitations due to the invasive nature of certain analyses and the size and randomness of the study populations. Thus, animal models that are able to mimic human physiological responses could aid in investigating metabolic disease. Thus, the present study was designed to analyze metabolic syndrome markers in albino Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) of different ages. The following parameters were assessed at two (young), four ( adult), six (adult), and twelve (mature) months of age: glucose tolerance (glucose tolerance test); insulin sensitivity (insulin tolerance test); fasting serum glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholestero, and LDL cholesterol concentrations; glucose uptake in isolated soleus muscle; and total lipid concentration in subcutaneous, mesenteric, and retroperitoneal adipose tissue. We found that aging triggered signs of metabolic syndrome in Wistar rats. For example, mature rats showed a significant increase in body weight that was associated. In addition, mature rats showed an increase in the serum concentration of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, which is characteristic of dyslipidemia. There was also an increase in serum glucose compared with the younger groups of animals. Therefore, aging Wistar rats appear to be an interesting model to study the changes related to metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The higher concentration during exercise at which lactate entry in blood equals its removal is known as "maximal lactate steady state" (MLSS) and is considered an important indicator of endurance exercise capacity. The aim of the present study was to determine MLSS in running rats. Adult male Wistar sedentary rats, which were selected and adapted to treadmill running for three weeks, were used. After becoming familiarized with treadmill running, the rats were submitted to five exercise tests at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 m/min velocities. The velocity sequence was distributed at random. Each test consisted of continuous running for 25 min at one velocity or until the exhaustion. Blood lactate was determined at rest and each 5 min of exercise to find the MLSS. The running rats presented MLSS at the 20 m/min velocity, with blood lactate of 3.9±1.1 mmol/L. At the 15 m/min velocity, the blood lactate also stabilized, but at a lower concentration (3.2±1.1 mmol/L). There was a progressive increase in blood lactate concentration at higher velocities, and some animals reached exhaustion between the 10th and 25th minute of exercise. These results indicate that the protocol of MLSS can be used for determination of the maximal aerobic intensity in running rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to evaluate glucose tolerance and peripheral insulin action of young pregnant female rats (90 days) either, sedentary or exercised (swimming, 5 days/week, 1h/day, overloaded at 5% of the body weight). The animals were submitted to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and subcutaneous insulin tolerance test (ITT) in late pregnancy. It was also made an evaluation of insulin action on glucose metabolism (glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis and lactate production) in the isolated soleous muscle from these animals. Placental weight fetal, body weight and fetal serum glucose were similar in sedentary and exercised animals. There were no differences between exercised and sedentary dams concerning to the glucose and insulin curves during OGTT. Exercised rats had a higher serum glucose disappearance rate during ITT than the sedentary rats. There were no significant differences in muscle glucose metabolism between exercised and sedentary dams. We concluded that swimming exercise was effective in reducing peripheral resistance to insulin during pregnancy in the rats without affecting fetal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]