Synergy between time-restricted feeding and time-restricted running is necessary to shift the muscle clock in male wistar rats.

Circadian disruption is an important factor driving the current-day high prevalence of obesity and type-2 diabetes. While the impact of incorrect timing of caloric intake on circadian disruption is widely acknowlegded, the contribution of incorrect timing of physical activity remains relatively understudied. Here, we modeled the incorrect timing of physical activity in nightshift workers in male Wistar rats, by restricting running wheel access to the innate inactive (light) phase (LR).

Ageing, Cognitive Decline, and Effects of Physical Exercise: Complexities, and Considerations from Animal Models.

In our ageing global population, the cognitive decline associated with dementia and neurodegenerative diseases represents a major healthcare problem. To date, there are no effective treatments for age-related cognitive impairment, thus preventative strategies are urgently required. Physical exercise is gaining traction as a non-pharmacological approach to promote brain health.

Investigating Habenula Functional Connectivity and Reward-Related Activity in Obesity Using Human Connectome Project Data.

The habenula, a brain region involved in aversion, might negatively modulate caloric intake. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies reported associations between weight loss and habenula functional connectivity. However, whether habenula resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and reward-related activity are altered in obesity is yet unknown.

Reduced contextually induced muscle thermogenesis in rats with calorie restriction and lower aerobic fitness but not monogenic obesity.

We have previously identified predator odor as a potent stimulus activating thermogenesis in skeletal muscle in rats. As this may prove relevant for energy balance and weight loss, the current study investigated whether skeletal muscle thermogenesis was altered with negative energy balance, obesity propensity seen in association with low intrinsic aerobic fitness, and monogenic obesity. First, weight loss subsequent to 3 wk of 50% calorie restriction suppressed the muscle thermogenic response to predator odor.

Voluntary physical activity modulates self-selection of a high-caloric choice diet in male Wistar rats.

Physical exercise training has been positioned as a behavioral strategy to prevent or alleviate obesity via promotion of energy expenditure as well as modulation of energy intake resulting from changes in dietary preference. Brain adaptations underlying the latter process are incompletely understood. Voluntary wheel running (VWR) is a self-reinforcing rodent paradigm that mimics aspects of human physical exercise training.