Beneficial effect of treadmill exercise during pregnancy of obese mothers against neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in rats

Abstract Aims Earlier research studies have found that maternal obesity during pregnancy contributes to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. This study aims to examine whether treadmill workouts during pregnancy of obese mothers could attenuate neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in both male and female offspring of rat. Methods In the present study, normal and obese pregnant Wistar rats were used in six group. Some groups underwent treadmill exercise during pregnancy. Eight days after delivery, pups underwent neonatal hypoxia-ischemia induction. Seven days after hypoxia-ischemia induction, neurobehavioral tests were performed, and then, brain tissue was taken from the skull to measure cerebral edema, infarct volume, apoptotic factors, and Interleukin 6 (IL-6). Results The findings of this study indicated that the neurobehavioral function and %Bcl-2 gene expression in pups that born from obese mothers who exercise during pregnancy was significantly better than pups of obese mothers without exercise during pregnancy. Infarct volume, edema, BAX and IL-6 levels in pups that born from obese mothers who exercise during pregnancy was significantly lower than pups of obese mothers without exercise during pregnancy. Conclusions It seems that maternal treadmill exercise during pregnancy of obese mothers has beneficial effects against hypoxia-ischemia injury in rat pups.