Stress Hormone and Reproductive System in Response to Honey Supplementation Combined with Different Jumping Exercise Intensities in Female Rats
This study was performed to determine the effects of 8-week honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities on serum cortisol, progesterone, estradiol, and reproductive organs. Eighty-four 9-week-old female rats were divided into 7 groups: baseline controls (C0), sedentary group (C), 20 and 80 jumps per day (Ex20J,Ex80J), honey (H), and combined honey with 20 and 80 jumps per day (HEx20J,HEx80J) groups. Jumping exercise was performed at 5 days/week and honey was given at a dosage of 1 g/kg body weight/day for 7 days/week. The level of serum cortisol was higher inEx20JandEx80Jcompared to C. There was significantly lower value of serum cortisol inHEx20Jcompared toEx80J. Serum progesterone levels were significantly lower inEx20JandEx80Jcompared to C. However, serum progesterone levels were significantly higher inHEx20JandHEx80Jcompared toEx20JandEx80J. Relative uterine weights were significantly greater inHEx20Jcompared to C andHEx80J, respectively. There was no significant difference in estradiol level and relative ovarian weights among all the groups. Therefore, honey elicited beneficial effects in reducing the increase of cortisol and in increasing the reduce of progesterone levels induced by different intensities jumping exercise in female rats.