Effect of Food Restriction and Intense Physical Training on Estrous Cyclicity and Plasma Leptin Concentrations in Rats

• Published in: Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: SANTOS, Zirlene Adriana DOS, SILVA, Renata Juliana DA, BACURAU, Reury Frank Pereira, TIRAPEGUI, Julio, RIBEIRO, Sandra Maria Lima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Center for Academic Publications Japan 2011
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; Body Composition; Body Weight; Caloric Restriction; Eating; energy intake; Energy Metabolism; Estradiol - blood; Estrous Cycle; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; leptin; Leptin - blood; physical exercise; Physical Exertion; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Physical exercise; energy intake; Physical training; Rat; Rodentia; Concentration; Body composition; Feeding; Blood plasma; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Energy; Animal; Leptin; Estrous cycle; Restricted diet
• ISSN: 0301-4800; 1881-7742
• DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.57.1

Intense physical training and dietary energy restriction have been associated with consequences such as nutritional amenorrhea. We investigated the effects of intense physical training, food restriction or the combination of both strategies on estrous cyclicity in female rats, and the relationship between leptin ad these effects. Twenty-seven female Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: SF: sedentary, fed ad libitum; SR: sedentary subjected to 50% food restriction (based on the food intake of their fed counterparts); TF: trained (physical training on a motor treadmill with a gradual increase in speed and time), fed ad libitum; TR: trained with 50% food restriction. We analysed estrous cyclicity, plasma leptin and estradiol as well as chemical composition of the carcass, body weight variation, and weight of ovaries and perirenal adipose tissue. Data demonstrate that physical training alone was not responsible for significant modifications in either carcass chemical composition or reproductive function. Food restriction reduced leptin levels in all animals and interrupted the estrous cyclicity in some animals, but only the combination of food restriction and physical training was capable of interrupting the estrous cyclicity in all animals. Leptin was not directly related to estrous cyclicity. From our findings, it may be concluded that there is an additive or synergistic effect of energy intake restriction and energy expenditure by intense physical training on estrous cyclicity. Leptin appears to be one among others factors related to estrous cycle, but it probably acts indirectly.