Renal effects of isolated resistance training in rats fed with high-fat diet

Abstract

Aims: Regular physical activity is one of the most critical actions for treatment and prevention of obesity. Our aim is to evaluate the effects of resistance training in the inflammatory profile and renal damage promoted by high-fat diet in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: 12 weeks of a standard diet without (C) or with association with a 12 weeks resistance training program (RT), and high-fat diet without (HF) or with association with resistance training (HF-RT). Adiponectin, interleukin-6, leptin, MCP-1 and insulin were evaluated in plasma or serum. Glomerular size was analyzed by histology and total kidney content of mTOR, p-mTOR, PAI-1, STAT3 and p-STAT3 were quantified by western blot. Results: High-fat diet increased leptin, MCP-1 and TNF-α levels and resistance training normalized these levels in these animals. Glomerular tuff hypertrophy and renal increase in STAT, p-STAT3, mTOR and p-mTOR expression were observed in HF animals and normalized with RT. Conclusions: Our resistance training protocol had beneficial effects on proinflammatory state ang glomerular alterations in rats fed high-fat diet.