Adaptations of muscle tissue of rats submitted to aerobic and anaerobic physical training in different ergometer models

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of four different training models, two aerobic and two anaerobic models, in relation to muscular hypertrophy, by means of morphometric analysis of the muscle cells of the soleus muscle and the extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL). The animals were divided into five groups, control (C), aerobic training in swimming (ATS), resistance training in water (RTW), aerobic training on a treadmill (ATT), and resistance training in climbing (RTC). The aerobic training was performed at 70 % of the anaerobic threshold for 30 minutes, while the RTW was composed of 3 series of 10 jumps, and the RTC 4 series of climbs, both at 80 % of the maximum load. All training protocols were performed for a total period of 4 weeks, 3 times per week. The diameters of the muscle cells were measured by means of histological slides of the EDL and soleus muscles. For the EDL muscle, there was no difference between the ATS and ATT aerobic training models (p = 0.20). However, the RTW presented greater hypertrophy when compared to the RTC (p <0.01). Regarding the soleus muscle, the ATS was responsible for generating greater hypertrophy than the ATT (p <0.01). In addition, the RTC was more efficient at producing hypertrophy than the RTW (p <0.01). In this way, it was concluded that exercise adaptation was according to exercise type, aerobic or anaerobic, and not to the modality used.