Exercise -- Physiological aspects

The purpose of this study was to determine if maximal aerobic exercise promotes
BDNF expression in obese individuals. Plasma levels and the expression of BDNF in
PBMCs were examined. 22 participants (10 obese, 12 non-obese) completed a V02max
treadmill test and blood was obtained pre, post, and 1 and 2 hours into exercise recovery.
Plasma and PBMCs were isolated and analyzed for BDNF via ELISA and Western blot
techniques. A significant effect for time was observed for plasma BDNF (P= <0.00 1 ).
Additionally, A significant group-by-time interaction was found from pre-to-RIH for
BDNF expression in PBMCs (P= 0.046). Further, significant correlations were found
between BMI and waist circumference (r= .91, P< 0.001), WHR (r= .51, P= 0.002) and
Pre-to-RlH ratio (r=0.58, P=0.008). Young obese subject's BDNF response to maximal
exercise was consistent with previous studies. Post-exercise BDNF expressed in PBMCs
were significantly higher than rest suggesting immunological-neuroprotective
interactions in the CNS.

The purpose of this study was to determine if barbell circuit training (RTC) as a model for concurrent training is superior to high intensity interval (CTHI) or moderate intensity continuous (CTMI) cycling for changes in muscular strength, hypertrophy, and body composition. Eleven trained males were recruited and counterbalanced into three groups. Each program featured three alternating days of resistance training per week, with one of the above time-equated (30-minute) concurrent training modalities between sessions. All groups increased muscular strength (p<0.05, RTC=7.48%, CTHI=10.32%, CTMI=15.74%) with no group differences (p>0.05). Increases in upper body muscle hypertrophy were similar in RTC and CTMI (p<0.01, RTC=20.18%, CTMI=20.97%), increases in lower body muscle hypertrophy only occurred in CTMI (VM: p=0.01, 38.59%, VLP: p=0.07, 13.33%), while no hypertrophy changes were detected in CTHI (p>0.05), no group experienced changes in body composition (p>0.05). These findings suggest similar muscle performance benefits from barbell circuit or cycling concurrent training.

The purpose of this study was to determine if resistance exercise altered
peripheral BDNF concentration. Eighteen trained male subjects were split into two
groups performing varied repetition ranges. DUP-HR and DUP-LR groups trained
3x/week for 8 weeks, and were equated for total volume (repetitions X sets X intensity).
Plasma BDNF and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured prior to and immediately
following the first exercise session of weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6. Pre-exercise levels were also
assessed prior to the second and third sessions of week 1 and 6. Lastly, resting levels
were measured before and after training intervention. No group differences (p>0.05) were detected for either biomarker. An acute BDNF elevation (p=0.018) was detected only in the final week of training. IL-6 elevations were detected at all acute measurements (p<0.01). BDNF and IL-6 percentage change correlated significantly (p<0.05) in week-1. No chronic alterations were observed (p>0.05).