Vitamin D is associated with metabotropic but not neurotrophic effects of exercise in ovariectomized rats.

Purpose: Here, we studied the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on metabolic syndrome components, cognitive performance, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and irisin in ovariectomized rats with different serum vitamin D (Vit D) status.

Methods: Eighty female wistar rats were divided into 2 groups of sham operated (sham, n = 8), and ovariectomized (OVX, n = 72). Then OVX were divided into 9 groups of receiving combination of exercise protocol with low dose of Vit D (OVX + EXE + LD), high dose of Vit D (OVX + EXE + HD), Vit D deficiency (OVX + EXE - D), and (OVX + EXE + Veh).