The Effect of Exercise Training Type on Paraoxonase-1 and Lipid Profile in Rats

Background: Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an anti-atherosclerotic enzyme that protects high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) against oxidation. There are contradictory studies about the effects of exercise training on PON1 activity. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the effects of sprint and endurance exercise training on serum PON1 activity and lipid profile in rats. Methods: Twenty-four Albino Wistar rats were divided to sedentary control (SC), endurance training (ET), and sprint training (ST) groups. The animals were subjected to endurance (at a speed of 27 m/minute) and sprint (at a speed of 40 to 54 m/minute) training on a treadmill for 6 weeks, 6 days per week. Using commercial kits, PON1 activity and lipid profile levels were measured by spectrophotometry and enzymatic methods, respectively. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test at P < 0.05 level. Results: Both ET and ST regimens increased PON1 activity in the serum, and the alteration was greater following ST than ET (F1, 23 = 17.87, P = 0.001). In contrast, neither ST nor ET changed significantly the serum levels of triglyceride (F1, 23 = 0.288, P = 0.753), total cholesterol (F1, 23 = 0.385, P = 0.685), LDL (F1, 23 = 1.07, P = 0.361), and HDL (F1, 23 = 1.36, P = 0.277). In addition, serum PON1 activity was positively correlated with serum HDL levels in rats (R = 0.44, P = 0.032). Conclusions: Despite the lack of change in serum lipid profile, sprint training can lead to greater protection against lipid peroxidation than endurance training through increases in serum PON1 activity.