Effects of moderate- and high-intensity exercise on behavior and oxidative damage in male and female rats subjected to early life stress

Childhood trauma is associated with the development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood, including major depressive disorder (MDD). In preclinical research, animal models are widely used to investigate behavioral and neurobiological alterations related to depressive-like phenotypes, including anhedonia, anxiety-like behavior, and cognitive deficits. Several studies have shown that physical exercise is beneficial for MDD. However, the best type of exercise and intensity is still uncertain. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of different physical exercise protocols on behavioral outcomes and oxidative damage in rats subjected to maternal deprivation (MD). Moderate or intense aquatic exercise was applied to male and female rats subjected to MD. Anhedonia, anxiety-like behavior, and habituation memory were assessed. In the serum, oxidative stress parameters were analyzed in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus. MD induced anhedonic-like behavior in females. Moderate aquatic exercise and intense aquatic exercise reduced anxiety in females, MD increased anxious behavior in males, and intense aquatic exercise reversed this effect. In memory, MD induced a deficit in females in the deprived group and males and females with both exercises. MD induces oxidative damage in the brain in a gender-dependent manner, which is generally attenuated by physical exercise. MD induces behavioral changes and increases oxidative damage in adulthood, and exercise protocols may interfere depending on gender and brain region. Further studies are needed to identify the ideal exercise protocol for changes resulting from childhood trauma.