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Updated: Sep 6, 2025
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A Chronic High-Intensity Interval Training and Diet-Induced Obesity Model to Maximize Exercise Effort and Induce Physiologic Changes in Rats
Published on: April 28, 2023
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Moderate-Intensity Exercise Improves Endothelial Function by Altering Gut Microbiome Composition in Rats Fed a
Honggang Yin1,2, Junhao Huang2, Min Hu1,3
1School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport.
Summary
Aerobic exercise improved body composition and endothelial function in rats on a high-fat diet. Exercise altered gut microbiota, reducing specific bacteria and associating them with improved vascular health.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Physiology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Obesity is linked to altered gut microbial ecology and endothelial dysfunction.
- Mechanisms by which exercise improves endothelial function in obesity are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if exercise improves endothelial function in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD).
- To determine if exercise alters gut microbiome composition in HFD-fed rats.
Main Methods:
- Obesity induced via HFD for 11 weeks.
- Assessed body composition, mesenteric artery endothelium-dependent relaxation, and blood biochemistry.
- Characterized gut microbiome using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Main Results:
- Exercise training improved body composition and enhanced endothelium-dependent relaxation in mesenteric arteries.
- Aerobic exercise increased vascular endothelial growth factor and decreased C-reactive protein levels.
- Exercise altered gut microbiome composition, reducing Clostridiales and Romboutsia; specific bacteria correlated with endothelial function parameters.
Conclusions:
- Aerobic exercise enhances endothelial function in HFD-fed rats, partly by altering gut microbiota composition.
- Findings suggest physical exercise can be applied to improve endothelial function in obese individuals.
