A groundbreaking research project funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has revealed that all bodily tissues in young adult rats respond to exercise training, with over 35,000 biological molecules adapting to endurance exercise over time. The study, which was published in Nature, examined 19 tissue types and identified molecular changes in genes, proteins, and metabolites in response to exercise.
One of the key findings of the study was the differences in responses to exercise between male and female rats, highlighting the importance of including both sexes in pre-clinical research. Unique responses to exercise were found in each tissue, with surprising effects on mitochondria in the adrenal gland.
The study’s results have significant implications for personalized exercise regimens aimed at treating or preventing health conditions. By understanding these molecular changes, researchers can tailor exercise programs to individual needs.
This research is part of NIH’s Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC), which seeks to uncover how exercise affects health at the molecular level. Data from the project is publicly available for further analysis and to promote collaboration within the biomedical community.
The NIH Common Fund, which supports high-impact programs, oversees the MoTrPAC project in collaboration with other NIH Institutes and Centers. For more information on this study and other NIH programs, visit the Common Fund website or the NIH website.
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