Hormonal involvement in the reduction of cholesterol associated with chronic exercise

  • R. J. Barnard
  • R. L. Terjung
  • C. M. Tipton
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Summary

The involvement of hormones in the reduction of cholesterol associated with chronic exercise was investigated in male rats maintained on a normal diet. Trained or nontrained animals belonging to one of the following groups were used: normal, thyroidectomized, hypophysectomized or hypophysectomized plus thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Rats were trained in motor driven treadmills for a minimum of ten weeks and were capable of running continuously an hour a day at a speed of a mile/hour. Significant increases in ligamentous strength indicated that the training program was effective in producing a trained state.

Plasma cholesterol data showed no significant differences between the trained and nontrained animals in any group. These results suggested that animals must be on a high fat diet before exercise will be associated with a systematic reduction of plasma cholesterol levels.

The liver data from the normal animals demonstrated that the exercise regime was capable of significantly reducing cholesterol levels. Results from the animals devoid of thyroid activity (hypophysectomized and thyroidectomized), showed no significant effect from training. However, the hypophysectomized rats receiving TSH did exhibit a significant reduction in liver cholesterol.

These findings imply that thyroid hormones are involved in the reduction of cholesterol with exercise.

Keywords

Cholesterol Cholesterol Level Thyroid Hormone Thyroid Stimulate Hormone Plasma Cholesterol 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1968

Authors and Affiliations

  • R. J. Barnard
    • 1
  • R. L. Terjung
    • 1
  • C. M. Tipton
    • 1
  1. 1.Exercise Physiology Laboratory University of IowaIowa City

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