Effect of high-intensity interval training on self-care and anxiety-like behaviors in naive rats

Abstract

Self-care behavior covers individual's health, life and well-being to maintain the necessary activities. The aim of this study is to examine the self-care and possible anxiolytic efects of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIT). Eight-week-old Wistar Albino male rats were divided into Control (n=8), and Exercise (n=8). Rat exercised for 38 min a day, 5 days a week, for 8 weeks The animals were then subjected to open feld test and splash test, and the behaviors were video recorded. Student t test and Shapiro–Wilk test were used as statistical tests. In the exercise group, spray-induced grooming behavior increased signifcantly in terms of duration and frequency (p<0.05), but no signifcant diference was observed in the latency of grooming (p>0.05). In the open-feld test, the total distance traveled, which is a locomotor activity parameter, did not change between the groups. Anxiolytic-like behaviors such as total rearing behavior, unsupported rearing, central time, and central region entries increased remarkably in the exercise group vs. control (p<0.0001). Freezing as an anxiogenic behavior decreased in the exercise group positively (p<0.0001). Intermittent high-intensity exercise improved and increased selfcare behaviors. Further, the present study shows that HIIT has benefcial efects on diferent aspects of behaviors such as exploratory behaviors, increasing anxiolytic behaviors, and reducing anxiogenic behavior. The present study is a preclinical study that will pave the way for new studies.