Moderate physical training attenuates the effects of perinatal undernutrition on the morphometry of the splenic lymphoid follicles in endotoxemic adult rats.
OBJECTIVE
Physical training is a well-known inducer of positive physiological adaptations. The effects of moderate physical training on the morphometry of splenic lymphoid follicles of endotoxemic rats submitted to a perinatal low-protein (LP) diet were evaluated.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to their mother's diet (17% casein, control, C) and, undernourished (8% casein, LP diet). On postnatal day 63, the animals were submitted to moderate physical training (8 weeks, 5 days·week⁻¹, 60 min·day⁻¹, at 70% of VO(₂max)). After the physical training period, half of each group received an injection of either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline. Plasma corticosterone concentration, blood differential leukocyte counts and splenic morphometric parameters were analyzed.


RESULTS
In undernourished toxemic (LP + LPS), LPS increased plasma corticosterone concentrations, but not in previously trained (LP + T + LPS) animals. Neutrophilia and lymphopenia in response to LPS was more pronounced in pups from undernourished mothers (LP + LPS). LP + LPS animals showed a higher increment (47.4%) in the number of lymphoid follicles, a reduction in the number and size of the splenic follicles, and in the marginal zone area. Those alterations were attenuated in trained animals (LP + T + LPS).


CONCLUSIONS
Physical training attenuates the effects of nutritional programming on the splenic microanatomy by a mechanism that involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Moita
Luanna
L
Department of Pathology, CAV-Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Lustosa
Marinaldo Freire
MF
Silva
Amanda Theresa Tobias
AT
Pires-de-Melo
Iracema Hermes
IH
de Melo
Roberto José Vieira
RJ
de Castro
Raul Manhães
RM
Filho
Nicodemos Teles de Pontes
NT
Ferraz
José Cândido
JC
Leandro
Carol Góis
CG
D000818:Animals; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides