Efeitos do exercício físico em comportamentos relacionados com a ansiedade em ratos

Abstract

Introduction: The effects of physical exercise are associated with reduced anxiety and maintaining this state for several hours. However, few studies have investigated the effects of acute exercise on anxiety. Objective: To investigate the acute effect of exercise intensity on behavior related to anxiety in animal models. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided in eight groups: control, 0%, 5%, and 50% of the load corresponding to the weight of the animals. The groups were submitted to a swimming protocol that consisted of 30 minutes of exercise for groups 0% and 5% and ten sessions of ten jumps interspersed with one minute of rest for the 50% group. After swimming the animals were exposed to the open field test and the elevated plus-maze test. Data were statistically analyzed by One-way ANOVA test and post hoc Bonferroni test, using P<0.05. Results: Data analysis in the open field test found significant differences for crossing measures (F(3,20)=9.60, p<0.01), with an increase of crossings in group 5% (81.2±14.8) compared to the control group (45.0±8.7). A significant difference was found in the input percentage in the open arms (F(3,28)=5.63, p<0.01), with a decrease in group 50% (25.4±17.0) in respect to the control group (46.8±9.1). Conclusion: The practice of exercise at intensity of 5% showed anxiolytic effects while at the intensity of 50% elicited anxiogenic effects.