Effect of exercise training on plasma cholesterol and cholesterol kinetics in adult female rats

Adult female rats fed laboratory chow of low cholesterol content were trained by swimming for 77 days. Plasma cholesterol concentration decreased 38% compared to sedentary controls. Whole body cholesterol metabolism was studied by injection of [14C]cholesterol tracer and determination of the plasma cholesterol-specific activity during the last 49 days of the experiment. The rate constant for elimination of cholesterol from the body was 31% higher in swimming than in sedentary animals, and the size of the rapidly-exchanging cholesterol pool was 28% smaller. These results suggest that enhanced cholesterol excretion or catabolism accompanies exercise training in the rat.