ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Original Research

Authors

Yazdanshenas   A. (1)
Peeri   M. (*)
Azarbyjani   M.A. (1)






(*) Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
(1) Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Correspondence

Address: Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Phone: +98 9151066146
Fax: +98 51 38790418
m.peeri@iauctb.ac.ir

Article History

Received:  June  12, 2018
Accepted:  July 24, 2018
ePublished:  October 10, 2018

BRIEF TEXT


Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders and is the leading cause of disability in the 21st Century. The experience of the primary stress of life plays a key role in the development of mood disorders in humans and rodents [1, 2].

... [3]. Maternal deprivation has been reported as a valid model for investigating rodent depression behaviors [4]. According to studies, testosterone is an anabolic hormone that stimulates Protein synthesis, and plays an important role in the growth and maintenance of muscle tissue [5]. Cortisol is also a catabolic hormone and indeed the most important anti-anxiolytic hormone in the body [6]. ... [7, 8]. Studies have shown that increased levels of cortisol in the bloodstream have negative effects on the body, including an imbalance in blood glucose levels, bone loss and muscle atrophy, weakening of the body's defenses, and stimulant responses, etc. [9,10]. ... [11-14]. Although several studies have been conducted to find effective treatments for depressive disorders, little progress has been made. Recently, non-medical treatments (such as physical activity and environmental enrichment) have been shown to have potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of depression [15, 16]. Focusing on animal studies, it has been shown that any voluntary exercise has antidepressant effects in rodents [17, 18]. ... [19, 20].

The present study aimed at investigating the effect of volunteering exercises during adolescence on testosterone and corticosterone levels in male rats following childhood stress.

The present study is an experimental research.

This study was conducted on Wistar pregnant female rats in Tehran.

This study was conducted on 15 Wistar pregnant female rats.

After giving birth, 36 male baby rats were selected as the sample and 24 rats were separated from their mothers from 2nd to 14th days for 180 min (3 h). On day 21, the rats were randomly assigned into the experimental and control groups (each group=12 rats) and each 4rats kept in a cage until the day 28. The groups included control (no maternal deprivation), maternal deprivation, and rodent running wheel groups. During the study, the animals were kept in cages with a temperature of 22±22°C and 50±5% humidity under controlled conditions of light (12:12 h light-dark cycle) and were free to standard water and food (10 g per 100 g of body weight) as pellets (Behpour Co.). Volunteering exercises protocol On the day 2 after birth, rodent running wheel groups (12 rats) were placed on the machine for one week for adaption. Rodent running wheel protocol was used in accordance with the method used by Gorji et al. [21]. Two rats (male and female) with MS were kept in each training cage. The rats had free access to the running wheel for 24 h a day for 32 days, which lasted until the day 60 of birth, and the daily distance traveled (km) was recorded. To avoid social isolation effects, two rats were isolated in a cage by a permeable glass sheet that made them able to contact. On the 60th day after birth, blood samples were taken by direct blood sampling from the heart. After serum separation by centrifugation, blood samples were stored at -20°C until blood samples were taken. Cortisol hormone concentration was measured by ELISA and the kits (Cortisol ELISA, IBL International, Germany, 2.5 ng/ml) and testosterone was assessed by (CLIA Testosterone AccuLite TM, Monobind Inc., USA, 0.026 ng/ml) by luminescence quantitative method. The testosterone/cortisol ratio was also calculated by dividing the testosterone concentration (ng/ml) into serum cortisol concentration (ng/ml). T-test and one-way ANOVA using Graph-pad prism software were used for quantitative analysis of data between groups using.

The stress caused by maternal deprivation significantly increased cortisol levels and considerably and significantly decreased testosterone levels in male rats. The mean difference of cortisol and testosterone levels between MS and control group was 223.95±45.45 μg/dl and -2.22±0.27 nm/l, respectively, which showed a significant difference between two groups (p=0.0002; p=0.039). In addition, the mean difference of cortisol/testosterone in the MS and control groups was -0.007852±-0.001581, which showed a significant difference between two groups (P=0.002; Table 1). Figure 1-a shows the effects of MS on cortisol levels. One-way ANOVA analysis showed an increase in cortisol level (df=13, t=4, P<0.05) in MS groups compared with the control animals. Figure 1b also shows a significant reduction in testosterone levels (t=6, t=8, P<0.0005) in MS groups compared with the control group. On the other hand, in Figure 1-c indicates a significant decrease (t=6, t=4, P<0.005) in the testosterone/cortisol ratio in MS group compared with the control group. Voluntary exercise in adolescents led to moderated levels of cortisol and testosterone induced by MS in rats. We investigated the potential protective effect of voluntary exercise on altered levels of cortisol and testosterone induced by MS in rats.

According to the evidences, stressful life events in the early stages of life have profound and prolonged effects on the brain and behavior [1]. In addition, the results of the current research showed that primary stress in life can disable individuals in controlling immune disorders and expose them to bacterial infections. Earlier studies have shown that early life stresses like MS are associated with psychological manifestations as well as cerebrospinal dysfunction [22]. In this regard, brain dysfunction has been reported to play an important role in anxiety and post-MS depression [23]. It is now quite obvious that disruption of the brain-visceral axis following stressful events in the early stages of life is associated with stress and abnormal behaviors [24]. The correlation between abdominal disorders (such as IBD and IBS) and mood and anxiety disorders has been reported in extensive studies. It has also been stated that hypothalamic-pituitary axis, immunity, intestinal inflammation and microbiota help to develop brain-gut axis dysfunction [25-27]. Our results are consistent with previous studies that MS can stimulate depressive behaviors in rodents [4]. .... [28-39]. In this study, the effect of volunteering exercise with moderate intensity on testosterone/cortisol ratio was investigated. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations are very sensitive to exercise. These concentrations can be influenced by the state and duration of exercise. [40]. ... [41-50].

It is suggested that more studies be done to determine the type, frequency and duration of exercise.

There are some differences between human and rodent immune markers; therefore, these differences should be further explored.

Exercise, especially voluntary exercise, during adolescence, reduced stress and decreased depression and anxiety behaviors in adulthood.

Special thanks to Mr. Prof. Mohsenzad Peeri, as a supervisor, for his support in selecting the topic of the thesis, the establishment of the specialized laboratory as well as conducting and writing the thesis and article.

None declared.

None declared.

This study was supported by the authors.

TABLES and CHARTS

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