Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Physiological responses to intense exercise in obese rats treated with metformin

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the physiological responses to intense exercise in obese Wistar rats treated with metformin. To induce obesity, all animals were infused with monosodic glutamate (4 mg/g of body weight) via subcutaneous injection. The rats were divided in 4 groups according to the received treatment: obese control (OC); obese metformin ( OM); obese control exercise (OCE) and obese metformin exercise (OME). Before and after one session of intense exercise the following parameters were measured: serum glucose (mg/dl), triglycerides (g/100g), total cholesterol (mg/dl) and haematocrit (%). The values of serum glucose and total cholesterol were significantly reduced in control exercise group (OCE - 68.4 ± 14.7 and 70.8 ±18.3) compared to obese control sedentary group (OC - 83.6 ± 12.8 and 91.3 ± 9.6). The isolate metformin infusion decreased the glucose concentration from 83.6 ± 12.8 (OC) to 70.8 ± 5.9 (OM). On the other hand, metformin associated with exercise increased the availability of free triglycerides after exercise (OM - 166.6 ± 11.3, OME - 184.0 ± 4.3). In conclusion, the present intervention program (intense physical exercise) showed to be efficient on glicemic homeostasis, as well as on lipids circulatory levels in obese rats treated with metformin.

Metformin; Obesity; Swimming


Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina do Exercício e do Esporte Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, 278, 6º and., 01318-901 São Paulo SP, Tel.: +55 11 3106-7544, Fax: +55 11 3106-8611 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: atharbme@uol.com.br