Evaluating the protective effect of 6 weeks resistance training and vitamin D intake on brain neuro-inflammatory factors in female rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease and is associated with reduced physical capacity. The aim of this study was to examine the protective effect of a 6-week resistance training program and vitamin D intake on the brain neuro-inflammatory factors in female Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this experimental study, four-week-old female Lewis rats (n=48) were randomly divided into 8 groups. Resistance training protocol was performed for 6 weeks and 5 days a week. A training program was started with a load equal to 50% of the body weight of the rat. Animals in the first two sessions performed 8 to 10 repetitions (climbing the ladder) at 2-minute breaks. The rats were immunized with the guinea pig's spit and complete adjuvant. The EAE model was induced at the end of the sixth week of the exercise. Rats received 5 μg of vitamin D3 in 150 μl of sesame oil per kilogram of their body weight via intraperitoneal injection once every two days for 2 weeks. The results showed that six weeks of resistance training with vitamin D had no significant effect on granulocyte-monocyte growth factor, nuclear transcription factor kB and transforming growth factor beta (P>0.05). However, Interleukin-17 values showed a significant difference in all three levels of training (P=0.000), supplements (P=0.045), and interactive training and supplementation (P=0.043). The inadequacy of the training period (frequency and intensity of exercise) and the dose rate of vitamin D3 can be one of the possible causes of ineffectiveness of the present intervention.