Metabolic effects of exercise. II. Residual metabolic effects of exercise in rats

This report described the duration of changes in serum lipids, adrenal weight and hepatic G-6-PD activity in rats following the termination of 10 weeks of voluntary activity in a revolving drum. Exercised rats had lower weight gain, larger adrenal glands, lower serum cholesterol, lower serum triglycerides and lower liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activity than the sedentary controls. The differences between exercise and control rats in adrenal gland weight, body weight and G-6-PD tend to disappear within 3 wk after termination of the exercise. These experiments provide evidence that exercise can affect lipid metabolism and have a beneficial effect on the lowering of serum lipids. It also shows that this effect will persist for up to 3 wk after the exercise is terminated, under the experimental conditions of this study.