# Physical Exercise Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Autonomic Dysregulation in a Rat Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

## TL;DR

Physical exercise helps reduce gut inflammation and autonomic imbalances in rats with inflammatory bowel disease.

## Contribution

This study shows that exercise can alleviate oxidative stress and autonomic dysregulation in a rat model of IBD.

## Key findings

- Exercise prevents changes in body composition and reduces oxidative stress in rats with ileitis.
- Physical exercise improves gastrointestinal motility and autonomic balance in IBD-affected rats.
- Exercise reduces intestinal retention and gastric retention in the ileitis group.

## Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) induces immunological and autonomic imbalances. Exercise is a beneficial strategy for controlling IBD symptoms. We investigated the role of exercise on gastrointestinal (GI) motility changes and autonomic parameters in rats with ileitis. Rats were divided into control, ileitis, and exercise+ileitis groups. Ileitis was induced by TNBS (40 mM, intraileally). The exercise was swimming (1 h/day/4 weeks, 5%/bw). We assessed eating behaviour and oxidative stress. Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance. Autonomic balance and ECG parameters were measured by an electrocardiogram (ECG). Gastrointestinal motility was evaluated using the phenol red technique. In terms of body composition, total body water (TBW), body mass index (BMI), and fat-free mass (FFM) were higher in the ileitis group (216.80 ± 11.44 mL; 24.09 ± 2.15 g/cm2; 287.1 ± 14.66 g) (p < 0.05) vs. control rats (130.06 ± 28.23 mL; 16.38 ± 2.50 g/cm2; 193 ± 42.21 g) and exercise prevented (91.33 ± 12.33 mL; 11.73 ± 0.47 g/cm2; 133.8 ± 16.82 g) (p < 0.05) these changes. The exercise+ileitis group induces a reduction (p < 0.05) in gastric retention vs. ileitis and control (11.22 ± 1.91% vs. 35.17 ± 1.01% and 33.96 ± 1.77%). Ileitis increased intestinal retention in the duodenum (46.3 ± 2.56% vs. 24.98 ± 1.78%) and jejunum (34.22 ± 2.33% and 34.72 ± 2.83% vs. 47.32 ± 1.48%) (p < 0.05) and decreased intestinal retention in the ileum (p < 0.05) vs. the control group. Exercise+ileitis prevented (p < 0.05) changes in the duodenum (24.96 ± 1.66% vs. 46.3 ± 2.56%) and ileum (40.32 ± 3.75% vs. 14.08 ± 0.88%). Ileitis induces high MDA levels (p < 0.05) vs. control rats (4.43 ± 0.69 vs. 2.15 ± 0.12 nmol/mg of the tissue). This effect was prevented (p < 0.05) in the exercise+ileitis group (2.75 ± 0.21 vs. 4.43 ± 0.69 nmol/mg of the tissue). We observed a reduction in the LF component (p < 0.05) in the ileitis group vs. control group (31.32 ± 3.99 vs. 43.43 ± 3.86). The correlation indicated a stronger interrelationship between the autonomic parameter and intestinal retention in the ileum (r: 0.68; p: 0.04). The current study suggests intestinal ileitis alters GI motility and autonomic balance, and physical exercise can represent an essential non-pharmacological approach to IBD treatment.