Physical activity induces depression-like behavior in intact male rats

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior biochemistry and behavior, 2012-03, Vol.101 (1), p.85-87
• Main Authors: Hodosy, Július, Ostatníková, Daniela, Cagánová, Marieta, Kovácsová, Monika, Mikulajová, Mária, Guller, Ladislav, Putz, Zdeněk, Celec, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Androgen; Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Cell Size - drug effects; Depression; Depression - psychology; Estradiol - blood; Exercise; Forced swim test; Male; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - ultrastructure; Physical activity; Physical Conditioning, Animal - psychology; Progesterone - blood; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Swimming - psychology; Testosterone - blood; Testosterone - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.12.007

Testosterone affects behavior. Whether regular physical training does influence these effects is unknown. The assumption that testosterone induces muscular hypertrophy if combined with physical training has not been confirmed experimentally. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether activity and/or testosterone treatment affects depression-like behavior and to observe the effects of activity and testosterone on muscle fiber diameter. Forty-three male rats were divided into 4 groups: two groups (TST act and TST lazy) were treated with testosterone (5mg/kg) and two groups were used as control (CTRL act and CTRL lazy). Two of the groups (CTRL act and TST act) underwent 2weeks of exercise. The forced swim test was used as a test of depression-like behavior. Sex steroids were measured and the diameter of skeletal muscle fibers was evaluated. Testosterone was significantly higher in both testosterone-treated groups (p