Effects of swimming on experimental endometriosis in rats

AIM To evaluate the effect of swimming on experimental endometriosis in rats. METHODS 80 female SD rats were divided into 8 groups， including control group， model group and animals performed light exercise （swimming once a week）， moderate exercise （swimming 3 times a week）， and intense exercise （swimming 5 times a week） before or after endometriosis induction，10 rats in each group. The mRNA and protein expressions of fatty acid synthase （FAS）， matrix metalloproteinase 9 （MMP9） and proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA） in endometrium of rats were detected. RESULTS The swimming before the induction of the edometriosis lesions did not prove to have aprophylactic role against endometriosis， whereas the swimming after induction of the lesions had a beneficial effect regardless of frequency， with a greater reduction in the groups practicing moderate and intense activity （P<0.05）， an increase in FAS levels and a decrease in MMP9 and PCNA levels were also observed （P<0.05）. CONCLUSION Swimming after induction of the edometriosis is beneficial for the treatment of endometriosis， the mechanism may be related to the expression of FAS， MMP9 and PCNA protein.