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Can physical exercise during gestation attenuate the effects of a maternal perinatal low‐protein diet on oxygen consumption in rats?
Author(s) -
Amorim Marco Fidalgo,
Dos Santos José Antonio,
Hirabara Sandro Massao,
Nascimento Elizabeth,
De Souza Sandra Lopes,
De Castro Raul Manhães,
Curi Rui,
Leandro Carol Góis
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.2009.047621
Subject(s) - gestation , offspring , respiratory exchange ratio , medicine , endocrinology , vo2 max , treadmill , zoology , heart rate , physical exercise , casein , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , blood pressure , genetics
A protocol of physical exercise, based on maximal oxygen uptake , for female rats before and during pregnancy was developed to evaluate the impact of a low‐protein diet on oxygen consumption during gestation and growth rate of the offspring. Virgin female Wistar rats were divided into four groups as follows: untrained (NT, n = 5); trained (T, n = 5); untrained with low‐protein diet (NT+LP, n = 5); and trained with low‐protein diet (T+LP, n = 5). Trained rats were submitted to a protocol of moderate physical training on a treadmill over a period of 4 weeks (5 days week −1 and 60 min day −1 , at 65% of ). At confirmation of pregnancy, the intensity and duration of the exercise was reduced. Low‐protein groups received an 8% casein diet, and their peers received a 17% casein diet. The birth weight and growth rate of the pups up to the 90th day were recorded. Oxygen consumption , CO 2 production and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were determined using an indirect open‐circuit calorimeter. Exercise training increased by about 20% when compared with the initial values (45.6 ± 1.0 ml kg −1 min −1 ). During gestation, all groups showed a progressive reduction in the resting values. Dams in the NT+LP group showed lower values of resting than those in the NT group. The growth rate of pups from low‐protein‐fed mothers was around 50% lower than that of their respective controls. The T group showed an increase in body weight from the 60th day onwards, while the NT+LP group presented a reduced body weight from weaning onwards. In conclusion, physical training attenuated the impact of the low‐protein diet on oxygen consumption during gestation and on the growth rate of the offspring.