Abstract
Objective. Describe multicompartmental changes in the fat and various muscle fiber types, as well as the hormonal profile and metabolic rate induced by SD in rats. Methods. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were equally distributed into two groups: experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). The EG was submitted to SD for 96 h. Blood levels of corticosterone (CORT), total testosterone (TESTO), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) were used to assess the catabolic environment. Muscle trophism was measured using a cross-sectional area of various muscles (glycolytic, mixed, and oxidative), and lipolysis was inferred by the weight of fat depots from various locations, such as subcutaneous, retroperitoneal, and epididymal. The metabolic rate was measured using oxygen consumption ([Formula: see text]O2) measurement. Results. SD increased CORT levels and decreased TESTO, IGF-1, and T4. All fat depots were reduced in weight after SD. Glycolytic and mixed muscles showed atrophy, whereas atrophy was not observed in oxidative muscle. Conclusion. Our data suggest that glycolytic muscle fibers are more sensitive to atrophy than oxidative fibers during SD and that fat depots are reduced regardless of their location.