Early postnatal overnutrition impairs VO2max gains with moderate exercise and increase post-exercise muscle damage in adult male rats

• Published in: Journal of developmental origins of health and disease 2022-06, Vol.13 (3), p.406-410
• Main Authors: Almeida, Douglas Lopes, Fabricio, Gabriel Sergio, Tófolo, Laize Peron, Ribeiro, Tatiane Aparecida, Matiusso, Camila Cristina Ianoni, Ribeiro, Maiara Vanusa Guedes, Oliveira Ferreira, Anna Rebeka, Pavanello, Audrei, Malta, Ananda, Palma-Rigo, Kesia, de Freitas Mathias, Paulo Cezar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brief Reports; Exercise; Insulin resistance; Physical fitness; Rodents
• ISSN: 2040-1744; 2040-1752
• DOI: 10.1017/S2040174421000428

Exercise counteracts obesity effects, but information on how early-life obesity may affect long-term adaptation to exercise is lacking. This study investigates the impact of early-life postnatal overfeeding (PO) on animals’ adaptation to exercise. Only male Wistar rats were used. On postnatal day (PN) 30, rats from control (NL-9 pups) or PO (SL-3 pups) litters were separated into four groups: NL-sedentary (NL-Se), NL-exercised (NL-Ex), SL-sedentary (SL-Se), and SL-exercised (SL-Ex). Exercised groups performed moderate-intensity exercise, running on a treadmill, from PN30 to PN90. Further experiments were carried out between PN90 and PN92. PO promoted obesity in SL versus NL rats (P < 0.05). Exercise reduced body weight (P < 0.001), body fat (P < 0.01), and improved glucose homeostasis in SL-Ex versus SL-Se. SL-Ex presented lower VO2max (P < 0.01) and higher post-exercise LDH (P < 0.05) compared to NL-Ex rats. Although moderate exercise counteracted obesity in SL rats, early-life overnutrition restricts fitness gains in adulthood, indicating that early obesity may impair animals’ adaptation to exercise.