Colitis‐induced oxidative damage of the colon and skeletal muscle is ameliorated by regular exercise in rats: the anxiolytic role of exercise

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown that exercise protects the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the risk of diverticulosis, gastrointestinal haemorrhage and inflammatory bowel disease, while many digestive complaints occurring during exercise are attributed to the adverse effects of exercise on the colon. In order to assess the effects of regular exercise on the pathogenesis of colitis, Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were either kept sedentary or given exercise on a running wheel (0.4 km h −1 , 30 min for 3 days week −1 ). At the end of 6 weeks, under anaesthesia, either saline or acetic acid (4%, 1 ml) was given intracolonically. Holeboard tests were performed for the evaluation of anxiety at 24 h before and 48 h after induction of colitis. Increased 'freezing time' in the colitis-induced sedentary group, representing increased anxiety, was reduced in the exercised colitis group (P < 0.05). On the third day following the colonic instillation, the rats were decapitated under brief ether anesthesia and the distal 8 cm of the colons were removed. In the sedentary colitis group, macroscopic and microscopic damage scores, malondialdehyde level and myeloperoxidase activity were increased when compared to the control group (P < 0.01-0.001), while exercise prior to colitis reduced all the measurements with respect to sedentary colitis group (P < 0.05-0.001). The results demonstrate that low-intensity, repetitive exercise protects against oxidative colonic injury, and that this appears to involve the anxiolytic effect of exercise, suggesting that exercise may have a therapeutic value in reducing stress-related exacerbation of colitis.

Regular swimming before the induction of ulcer ameliorates oxidative gastric damage in rats: The anxiolytic effect of exercise

“…In patients with duodenal ulcer, combining the conventional antiulcer treatment with bicycle exercise has accelerated the healing of ulcer [37]. Similarly, we have previously shown in rats that colonic damage induced by acetic acid was improved by regular exercise [38]. The current data also demonstrate that exercising regularly prior to the occurrence of ulcer has a protective and a healing-accelerating effect on acetic acidinduced oxidative damage.…”

Exercise and the microbiota

“…colonic oxidative insult in a rat model of colitis. 32 Of course, prolonged excessive exercise has a deleterious influence on intestinal function. Intense exercise redistributes blood from the splanchnic circulation to actively respiring tissues.…”

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“…Szalai et al [62] also found evidence of benefit from recreational levels of exercise (wheel-running) in rats with TNBS-induced colitis in terms of decreased pro-inflammatory genes, the induction of antiinflammatory mediators, and modulation of the activity of HO and NOS enzymes. A controlled study of rats with an acetic acidinduced colitis confirmed that 6 weeks of moderate exercise on a running wheel (0.4 km/h, for 30 min, 3 days/wk) reduced markers of oxidative stress, and histological damage to the colon, in association with a reduction of stress as assessed by holeboard tests [32]. Saxena et al [57] evaluated adiponectin-defi- [54] 15 paediatric cases of CD in remission 30 min cycling at 50 % peak power or 6 bouts of 4 × 15 s cycling at 100 % peak power 16 of 20 subjects completed exercise protocols Robinson et al [55] 117 cases of CD randomized to low impact exercise or control group 12 low-impact floor exercises, 2/wk for 12 months 85 % completed programme, only 25 % followed prescribed regimen CD = Crohn's disease; CIBD = inflammatory bowel disease; ns = non-significant; UC = ulcerative colitis Patients show low IGF-1 and high IL-6 CD = Crohn's disease; HBI = Harvey-Bradshaw Index; CIBD = Inflammatory Bowel disease; IBDQ = Inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire; IBS = irritable bowel syndrome; IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor 1; IL-6 = interleukin 6; 1RM = 1 repetition maximum; PA = physical activity; RR = risk ratio; TNF-α; tumour necrosis factor alpha; UC = ulcerative colitis…”