title: Moderate physical training attenuates the effects of perinatal undernutrition on the morphometry of the splenic lymphoid follicles in endotoxemic adult rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, CAV-Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luanna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moita
authors.forename: Marinaldo Freire
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lustosa
authors.forename: Amanda Theresa Tobias
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Iracema Hermes
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Pires-de-Melo
authors.forename: Roberto José Vieira
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: Raul Manhães
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: Nicodemos Teles de Pontes
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: José Cândido
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: Carol Góis
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Leandro
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides