[Effect of physical training on basal metabolism. (1). Aging and long-term exercise loaded at a moderate intensity in...

Effect of training on basal metabolism in rats by means of long-term exercise loaded at a moderate intensity were studied. The Wistar-strain male rats were carefully bred at the room temperature of 23.0 +/- 1 degree C and humidity of 60%. The first physical training was carried out by motor driven treadmill for 8 weeks at a speed of 25 m/min for less than 15 min once daily and 6 times in a week after 4 weeks of birth. Continuously, the second training was carried out for 15 months at the same load of one time per week. Running ability and the recovery of glycogen in exhausted skeletal muscles on period of the first training, loaded from 4 weeks to 12 weeks after birth. There was no change on the basal metabolism between the trained and sedentary control rats. In general, the basal metabolism significantly fell by aging, for instance, 24 months rat's basal metabolism was 63% of 3-4 months rat's. The second training repressed a decline of running ability and rose the recovery of muscle glycogen in rats, though training could not be stopped lowering of basal metabolism in aged rats.