Effects of Aerobic Exercise Following Footshock Electrical Stimulation on ACTH and GnRH Gene Expression in the Brain Tissue of Obese Rats Under Caloric Restriction

Bagheri, Alireza; Morady, Mehdy; Malekipooya, Mohammad; Abedi, Bahram

doi:10.48307/FMSJ.2026.30.1.5

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Volume 30, Issue 1 (Bimonthly 2026)

Feyz Med Sci J 2026, 30(1): 5-16

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Effects of Aerobic Exercise Following Footshock Electrical Stimulation on ACTH and GnRH Gene Expression in the Brain Tissue of Obese Rats Under Caloric Restriction

Alireza Bagheri

, Mehdy Morady ^*

, Mohammad Malekipooya

, Bahram Abedi

Department of Exercise Physiology, Ar.C., Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran. , mehdy_morady59@yahoo.com

Abstract: (770 Views)

Background and Aim: Obesity is a multifactorial disorder that adversely affects various aspects of human health and is closely associated with alterations in hormonal secretion. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise following footshock electrical stimulation on the expression of ACTH and GnRH genes in the brain tissue of obese rats subjected to caloric restriction (intermittent fasting).
Methods: This experimental study with a control group was conducted on 35 male Wistar rats (8 weeks old, weighing approximately 200 ± 19 g). Following obesity induction and weight gain, the animals were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 7 per group): control, obese-fasted, fasted-endurance training, fasted-electrical stimulation, and fasted-combined endurance training plus electrical stimulation. Interventions were applied for 4 weeks. Endurance training was performed at an intensity of 10–20 m/min for 20–40 min per session. Electrical stimulation was delivered via a footshock device at an intensity of 0.5 mA for 20 min. Intermittent fasting was implemented using an 8/16-hour feeding/fasting regimen. At the end of the intervention period, brain tissues were collected under anesthesia, and gene expression levels were assessed using real-time PCR.
Results: Endurance training significantly increased the expression of both ACTH and GnRH genes in obese-fasted rats compared with other groups (P = 0.0001). Electrical stimulation alone also resulted in a significant upregulation of both genes, particularly in comparison with the obese-fasted group (P = 0.0001). Moreover, both electrical stimulation and the combined intervention significantly increased GnRH gene expression relative to the fasted group (P = 0.0001).
Conclusion: It appears that endurance training and electrical stimulation under fasting conditions may enhance ACTH and GnRH gene expression, thereby potentially contributing to improved metabolic status, reproductive health, and fat distribution through hormonal axis regulation.

Keywords: Obesity, Intermittent fasting, Endurance training, Electrical stimulation, ACTH, GnRH

Full-Text [PDF 532 kb] (37 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2025/09/18 | Revised: 2026/04/19 | Accepted: 2025/12/1 | Published: 2026/03/15

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Bagheri A, Morady M, Malekipooya M, Abedi B. Effects of Aerobic Exercise Following Footshock Electrical Stimulation on ACTH and GnRH Gene Expression in the Brain Tissue of Obese Rats Under Caloric Restriction. Feyz Med Sci J 2026; 30 (1) :5-16
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