Effect of physical training on insulin response to intravenous glucose in male peripubertal rats

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of regular endurance-type exercise (i.e., swimming) on glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin response (GSIR) in 55- and 90-day-old peripubertal male rats. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (0.5 g/kg) were done in four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats: two groups of trained (TR; 55- and 90-day-old) and two groups of age- and weight-matched untrained (UNTR) rats. The UNTR rats were subjected to a continuous food restriction to maintain body weights equal to those of the TR rats. Rats were received in our laboratory after weaning at 21 days of age and were evaluated 48 h after the last exercise bout. No significant differences in body weights were found between TR and UNTR rats, at the age of either 55 or 90 days. A significant (P < 0.01) decrease in the mean integrated area under the glucose and insulin curves was observed in TR compared with UNTR groups in 55- as well as 90-day-old rats. These results indicate that exercise training in male rats improves the glucose tolerance and GSIR before and during puberty (21-90 days) independently of a reduction in body weight gain.