Effects of Resistance Exercise on Gastrointestinal Motility in Rats: Development of a Fluoroscopy-Based Experimental Model
- 1Radiologic Sciences Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait City 13060, Kuwait
- 2Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City 13060, Kuwait
Abstract
Introduction: Exercise can alter gastrointestinal (GI) function, yet its effects on gastric function depend on the type, intensity, and duration of exercise. Despite extensive research on aerobic exercise, the gastric response to resistance exercise remains unexplored. This study aimed to develop a fluoroscopy-based model for quantifying gastric counts and to investigate changes in these measurements following resistance exercise in conscious rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control and resistance-exercise groups (n = 8 per group). The exercise group underwent resistance training three times weekly for four weeks. Gastric counts were quantified in conscious animals using fluoroscopy immediately post-exercise, 24 h post-exercise, and at week 4, following oral administration of barium sulfate contrast medium (300 μL). Data are presented as mean ± SD. Results: Gastric counts were numerically lower in the exercise group than in controls immediately after exercise, at 24 h post-exercise, and following four weeks of resistance training. Between-group differences were not statistically significant at any assessment. A significant group × time point interaction was observed only at 24 h post-exercise (F = 3.06, p = 0.016). Conclusions: Resistance exercise was associated with time-dependent variations in gastric counts, with changes observed during the post-exercise period. These findings demonstrate the value of quantitative fluoroscopy for longitudinal assessment of gastric function and provide a framework for investigating the dynamic GI response to exercise in conscious preclinical models.
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BibTeX
@article{khalaf2026effects,
title = {{Effects of Resistance Exercise on Gastrointestinal Motility in Rats: Development of a Fluoroscopy-Based Experimental Model}},
author = {Asseel Khalaf and Ajit Brindhaban and Hameed Al-Sarraf},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15218693},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8693},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of Resistance Exercise on Gastrointestinal Motility in Rats: Development of a Fluoroscopy-Based Experimental Model
AU - Asseel Khalaf
AU - Ajit Brindhaban
AU - Hameed Al-Sarraf
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/07
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15218693
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8693
AB - Introduction: Exercise can alter gastrointestinal (GI) function, yet its effects on gastric function depend on the type, intensity, and duration of exercise. Despite extensive research on aerobic exercise, the gastric response to resistance exercise remains unexplored. This study aimed to develop a fluoroscopy-based model for quantifying gastric counts and to investigate changes in these measurements following resistance exercise in conscious rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control and resistance-exercise groups (n = 8 per group). The exercise group underwent resistance training three times weekly for four weeks. Gastric counts were quantified in conscious animals using fluoroscopy immediately post-exercise, 24 h post-exercise, and at week 4, following oral administration of barium sulfate contrast medium (300 μL). Data are presented as mean ± SD. Results: Gastric counts were numerically lower in the exercise group than in controls immediately after exercise, at 24 h post-exercise, and following four weeks of resistance training. Between-group differences were not statistically significant at any assessment. A significant group × time point interaction was observed only at 24 h post-exercise (F = 3.06, p = 0.016). Conclusions: Resistance exercise was associated with time-dependent variations in gastric counts, with changes observed during the post-exercise period. These findings demonstrate the value of quantitative fluoroscopy for longitudinal assessment of gastric function and provide a framework for investigating the dynamic GI response to exercise in conscious preclinical models.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -