The effect of swimming exercise on thyroid function, spatial memory and anxiety in normal and propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism in Wistar rats

Introduction: Swimming exercises improve various nerve growth factors and angiogenesis that encouraged the researchers to investigate the effect of swimming exercises on thyroid function (cyclic adenosine monophosphate [cAMP] and dual oxidase 2 [DUOX 2 ] in free T 4 [FT 4 ] secretion), spatial memory, behavior and anxiety on normal Wistar pups and those given with propylthiouracil (PTU). Methods: The subjects of this research were normal Wistar pups and those given 25 ppm PTU from the 1 st week until the 12 th week of age. Swimming activity was started in 4-weekold pups after acclimatization for 1 week. Swimming exercises were conducted with a load of 1-2% body weight and 30min duration per day, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. The levels of FT 4 serum, cAMP and DUOX 2 of the thyroid gland homogenate were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The rats' ability to maintain spatial memory was measured using the Morris water maze and anxiety using the open field maze.