Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Estrogen regulates certain biological functions, including bone health, maintenance of skin components, and cardiovascular and brain protection. Estrogen deficiency manifests as hot flashes, wrinkles, skin dryness, reduced bone mineral density (BMD), sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise combined with ferulic acid (FA) in ovariectomized rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were classified into control (N), ovariectomy (OV), ovariectomy and exercise (OV+EX), and ovariectomy and exercise with ferulic acid (OV+EX+F) groups. Following ovariectomy at 22 weeks of age, the rats were tower climbing exercise at gradually increase the load (3 days/week for 12 weeks) with or without FA (5 g/kg diet) administration. RESULTS: Estrogen deficiency in female rats (OV group) resulted in increased body weight, increased blood triglyceride (TG) levels, and decreased BMD following ovariectomy. Interestingly, compared with the rats in the OV group, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited reduced body weight and blood TG levels and maintained BMD following ovariectomy, similar to those in the N group. Histological analysis of the skin of estrogen-deficient rats (OV group) revealed significantly decreased skin thickness with fewer dermal cells and distorted subcutaneous fat layers, similar to the aging phenotype. Interestingly, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited rescued skin phenotypes compared with those in the OV and OV+EX groups. The skin of rats from all groups was analyzed for the expression of DNA damage and repair proteins. The OV+EX+F and OV+EX groups exhibited enhanced protein levels of pCHK1 (S345), an initiator of DNA repair signaling, and p53, indicating increased cellular DNA damage because of ovariectomy and ultimately an underlying DNA repair process. CONCLUSION: Exercise with FA had beneficial effects on lipid profiles, BMD, and skin remodeling during menopause.