Long-Term Aerobic Training Improves Mitochondrial and Antioxidant Function in the Liver of Wistar Rats Preventing Hepatic Age-Related Function Decline

Most studies on the effects of physical exercise have focused on its influence on muscle tissue, forgetting its interference in liver function. Ageing leads to the progressive impairment of hepatic functions. Several biochemical and bioenergetics parameters were determined to test the impact of a lifelong aerobic training program in the hepatic age-related and the development of an adaptative response. Liver samples were collected from 28 male Wistar rats (4-week-old, 159.4 ± 11.9 g at the beginning of the protocol), randomly distributed into two groups: non-exercised or exercised and submitted to a treadmill exercise program (60 min/day, 5 days/week, at 70% of maximal running speed), for 24 (n = 9) or 54 weeks (n = 10). A maximal running speed test was performed to determine the training speed. Antioxidant enzyme activity, cellular redox status, oxidative stress, mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes and respiratory activity were performed in liver samples. Lifelong exercise decreased the age-associated decline in mitochondrial dysfunction, increasing the respiratory rate in state 2 (mitochondrial respiration stimulated by the substrate in the absence of added ADP) (p = 0.03) and citrate synthase enzymatic activity (p = 0.007). Complex II (p < 0.0001) and IV (p < 0.001) showed a decrease in enzymatic activity. Ageing-related oxidative stress was also attenuated by physical exercise, as showed by the increase in first-line defense antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (p = 0.07) and catalase (p = 0.03)), decreased lipid peroxidation levels (p = 0.864 for total fraction, p = 0,27 for mitochondrial fraction) and higher glutathione reduced/oxidized ratio (p = 0.02). According to our results, the regular practice of exercise can prevent the liver’s mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of antioxidant system efficacy that may arise from ageing, highlighting the benefit of lifelong aerobic exercise in preventing age-related hepatic impairment and associated diseases.