EFFECT OF TRAINING WITH EXERCISE ON PLASMA AND TISSUE LIPID LEVELS OF AGEING RATS

Old male rats were subjected to an exercise training program for three weeks in order to sec if some of the lipid abnormalities associated with old age were reversible and could be affected by exercise. The exercise program lowered body weight. Fasting values of blood glucose, free fatty acids and glycerol in plasma were not significantly affected. Plasma lipid levels were high in the old control rats and were significantly lowered by the exercise program, triglycerides by about 55%, cholesterol and phospholipids by about 25%. Liver triglyceride concentration, but not concentration of cholesterol and phospholipids, was decreased. In red skeletal muscle the triglyceride concentration was lowered, the phospholipid level increased and cholesterol values were unaffected. No significant changes occurred in white skeletal and heart muscle with regard to the concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol and phospholipids. © 1969 S. Karger AG, Basel.