Reproductive Hormonal Changes after Incremental Exercise in Female Rats

Abstract

Regular physical exercises can affect hormonal system of female athletes. This study evaluated the reproductive hormonal changes after an incremental exercise in female rats. Forty female 2 months old Sprague Dawley rats (200 +/- 5 g) were randomly divided into 4 equal groups including group 1 as control, group 2 undergoing incremental exercise, group 3 receiving supplement soy milk and group 4 undergoing incremental exercise together with a supplement of soy milk. The incremental exercise consisted of running on a flatted treadmill 3 days/weak for 10 weeks. The speed of treadmill gradually increased from 18 to 36 m min(-1) and the duration of each exercise started from 5 min in the first week and reached 8 min in the last week of exercise. The supplemented soy milk was administered for 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, animals were bled and the level of estrogen, progesterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) were determined. The LH level was statistically significant different between groups 1 and 2, 1 and 4, 2 and 3 (p < 0.05) and groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). FSH level was statistically significant between groups 1 and 4 (p < 0.05), 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). Regarding the estrogen level, the difference was not significant between the groups. Progesterone level was statistically significant between groups 1 and 4, 2 and 3, 1 and 3 (p < 0.05) and 2 and 4 (p < 0.05). It may be said that changes in the sex hormone are affected by various factors, but what should be considered is the interaction of these hormones. Internal hormonal changes are dependent on the sport history, intensity, duration, level and duration of soy milk supplementation.