title: Voluntary Running Aids to Maintain High Body Temperature in Rats Bred for High Aerobic Capacity.
abstract: The production of heat, i.e., thermogenesis, is a significant component of the metabolic rate, which in turn affects weight gain and health. Thermogenesis is linked to physical activity (PA) level. However, it is not known whether intrinsic exercise capacity, aging, and long-term voluntary running affect core body temperature. Here we use rat models selectively bred to differ in maximal treadmill endurance running capacity (Low capacity runners, LCR and High capacity Runners, HCR), that as adults are divergent for aerobic exercise capacity, aging, and metabolic disease risk to study the connection between PA and body temperature. Ten high capacity runner (HCR) and ten low capacity runner (LCR) female rats were studied between 9 and 21 months of age. Rectal body temperature of HCR and LCR rats was measured before and after 1-year voluntary running/control intervention to explore the effects of aging and PA. Also, we determined whether injected glucose and spontaneous activity affect the body temperature differently between LCR and HCR rats at 9 vs. 21 months of age. HCRs had on average 1.3°C higher body temperature than LCRs (p < 0.001). Aging decreased the body temperature level of HCRs to similar levels with LCRs. The opportunity to run voluntarily had a significant impact on the body temperature of HCRs (p < 0.001) allowing them to maintain body temperature at a similar level as when at younger age. Compared to LCRs, HCRs were spontaneously more active, had higher relative gastrocnemius muscle mass and higher UCP2, PGC-1α, cyt c, and OXPHOS levels in the skeletal muscle (p < 0.050). These results suggest that higher PA level together with greater relative muscle mass and higher mitochondrial content/function contribute to the accumulation of heat in the HCRs. Interestingly, neither aging nor voluntary training had a significant impact on core body temperature of LCRs. However, glucose injection resulted in a lowering of the body temperature of LCRs (p < 0.050), but not that of HCRs. In conclusion, rats born with high intrinsic capacity for aerobic exercise and better health have higher body temperature compared to rats born with low exercise capacity and disease risk. Voluntary running allowed HCRs to maintain high body temperature during aging, which suggests that high PA level was crucial in maintaining the high body temperature of HCRs.
authors: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors: Sira M
authors: SM
authors: Karvinen
authors: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Silvennoinen
authors: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors: Hongqiang
authors: H
authors: Ma
authors: Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors: Timo
authors: T
authors: Törmäkangas
authors: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Timo
authors: T
authors: Rantalainen
authors: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Rinnankoski-Tuikka
authors: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors: Sanna
authors: S
authors: Lensu
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Lauren G
authors: LG
authors: Koch
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Steven L
authors: SL
authors: Britton
authors: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors: Heikki
authors: H
authors: Kainulainen
keywords: aerobic capacity; aging; body temperature; physical activity; skeletal muscle