Adaptation to physical training in rats orally supplemented with glycerol

• Published in: Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 63 - 69
• Main Authors: Andrade, Eric Francelino, Lobato, Raquel Vieira, de Araújo, Ticiana Vasques, Orlando, Débora Ribeiro, Vicente da Costa, Diego, de Oliveira Silva, Víviam, Rogatto, Gustavo Puggina, Zangeronimo, Márcio Gilberto, Rosa, Priscila Vieira, Pereira, Luciano José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada NRC Research Press 01.01.2015; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: activité physique; Adaptation (Physiology); Adaptation, Physiological - drug effects; Adaptation, Physiological - physiology; Administration, Oral; Animals; athletes; athlètes; Dietary Supplements; Exercise; Glycerin; Glycerol; Glycerol - administration & dosage; glycérine; Health aspects; hyper-hydration; hyperhydratation; Male; Muscle Fatigue - drug effects; Muscle Fatigue - physiology; nutrition; physical activity; Physical Conditioning, Animal - methods; Physical Conditioning, Animal - physiology; Physiological research; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rodents; nutrition; hyper-hydration; activité physique; glycerin; athlètes; athletes; glycérine; hyperhydratation; physical activity
• ISSN: 0008-4212; 1205-7541
• DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2014-0312

We evaluated training adaptation and physical performance parameters in rats orally supplemented with glycerol, glucose, or saline, and submitted to moderate aerobic exercise. Thirty male rats were trained for 6 weeks and administered the supplements during the last 4 weeks of the experiment. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized factorial 2 × 3 design (with or without exercise and 3 substrates). Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were compared using the Student–Newmann–Keuls test at 5%. Among the trained animals, none of the substances caused differences in the percentages of protein, fat, or water content in the carcass. Compared with the sedentary animals, the trained animals supplemented with saline and glucose showed a higher protein percentage in the carcass. The relative mass of the heart and adrenal glands was higher in the trained animals. Glycerol improved the protein content in non-trained animals and increased the relative adrenal mass in both groups. Glycerol reduced the variation in levels of lactate and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) during the last exercise session. There was no difference between groups regarding the relative mass of the thymus and gastrocnemius or with the diameter of muscle fibers or the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio. Supplementation with glycerol was efficient at attenuating variation in AST and lactate levels during exercise.