EFFECTS OF HIGH INTENSITY RESISTANCE TRAINING IN RATS RECEIVING DEXAMETHASONE

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Prolonged administration of dexamethasone promotes deleterious changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of high intensity resistance training on insulin sensibility, glucose tolerance, and muscle strength in rats submitted to chronic use of dexamethasone.

Methods:

Forty males rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1) Control Sedentary (CS); 2) Control Trained (CT); 3) Dexamethasone Sedentary (DS) and 4) Dexamethasone Trained (DT). Resistance training was conducted in squat apparatus composed of three series, 10 repetitions, with an intensity of 75% of 1 RM for four weeks. Concurrently, the DS and DT groups received daily intraperitoneal dexamethasone (0.2 g/kg) and the CS and CT groups received only saline (0.9%). At the end of the protocol, glucose tolerance, insulin sensibility and maximum force tests were conducted.

Results:

In the trained groups (CT e DT) was found an increased muscle strength of 14.78% and 36.87%, respectively, with no significant gain in sedentary groups. In the glucose tolerance test, the trained groups (CT e DT) showed attenuated ranges of plasma glucose when compared to sedentary groups (CS and DS). In insulin sensibility test, the DT group showed lower area under the curve in relation to the DS group.

Conclusion:

The high intensity resistance exercise improved insulin sensibility, glucose tolerance and increased muscle strength in rats submitted to chronic use of dexamethasone.

Keywords:
resistance training; insulin resistance; hyperglycemia