Effects of a moderate physical training on the leptin synthesis by adipose tissue of adult rats submitted to a perinatal low-protein diet.

aim of the study was to verify if moderate physical training aff ects leptin content in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue of adult rats subjected to a low-protein diet during the peri- natal period. Male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups according to their mother's diet during gestation and lactation: control (17 % casein, C, n = 12) and low-protein (8 % casein, LP, n = 12). On postnatal day 60, half of each group was submitted to moderate physical training (8 wks, 5 d · wk − 1 , 60 min · d − 1 , at 70 % of VO 2max , T) or not. After the physical training period, visceral and subcutane- ous adipose tissues were removed. Leptin content was evaluated by western blotting. Starting from the fi fth week on, T pups showed a reduction in the body weight. Similarly, LP+T off spring showed a lower body weight starting from the sixth week on. Western blotting analysis showed that leptin content in the visceral tissue was higher in the LP rats (p < 0.01) and it was reversed in LP+T. No diff erence was found in the subcutaneous tissue. Moderate physical training attenuated the eff ects of a perinatal low-protein diet on the leptin con- tent in visceral adipose tissue in adult off spring.