Abstract
Regular mild exercise enhances antioxidant and anti-inflammatory systems of the body. The present study investigates voluntary exercise effects on lead toxicity as a known oxidative stressor. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. Sedentary control: the animals were housed 7 weeks in the regular cages. Exercise group: the animals were housed 7 weeks in the running wheel equipped cages, that is, the animal model of voluntary exercise. During the 7th week, all animals were administered lead acetate. Blood samples were collected at the end of the 6th week and 7th week (before and after lead administrations). Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were measured in the samples. Our results showed that lead administration reduced blood SOD, GPx and CAT and increased TNF-α; in the controls, but in the exercise group, changes were not statistically significant. MDA in both groups increased after lead injections but it was significantly lower in exercise group compared to the sedentary animals. We concluded that voluntary exercise may be considered as a preventive tool against lead-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.
Highlights
Regular physical exercise has known health benefits
Exercise beneficial effects have been studied in different cases of the increased oxidative stress including diabetes [3], aging [4], and hypercholesterolemia [5]
Our results indicated that mild exercise as a known antioxidant systems enhancer has protective effects against lead toxicity as well
Summary
Regular physical exercise has known health benefits. Exercise decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Different mechanisms have been demonstrated for exercise beneficial effects, including upregulation of antiinflammatory and antioxidant pathways [1]. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the free radical production and antioxidant defense systems of the body and has been implicated in many diseases [2]. Exercise beneficial effects have been studied in different cases of the increased oxidative stress including diabetes [3], aging [4], and hypercholesterolemia [5]. Many beneficial effects have been reported for mild/moderate exercise, exhaustive exercise induces oxidative stress through production of reactive oxygen species and can cause damage to muscle tissue and other organs [6, 7]. In the animal model of voluntary exercise, the animal has free access to a running wheel and uses the wheel according its physiological threshold for physical activity. Voluntary exercise is regarded as mild/moderate exercise [8]
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