Hypothalamic estrogen receptor α pathway involved in high intensity interval training induced visceral fat loss in premenopausal rats

Abstract Background Visceral fat tissue (VAT) is strongly associated with metabolic diseases. Both high-intensity training (HIT) and moderate-intensity training (MIT) reduce VAT effectively, while HIT might mediate larger VAT loss in females. The estrogen receptor α (ERα) pathway may play a key role. The aim of the present study was to confirm the role of adipose/hypothalamic ERα in HIT/MIT mediated VAT loss, as well as the associated hypothalamic electrophysiology and body catabolism changes in pre- and post menopausal animal models. Methods Ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgeries were carried out to establish pre/postmenopausal female rat models. After distance matched long-term HIT and MIT interventions, ERα expression in hypothalamic/VAT, as well as food intake, spontaneous physical activity (SPA), VAT mass and morphology, local field potential (LFPs) in paraventricular nuclei (PVN) and Excessive post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) were observed. And a target chemical blocking during the post-exercise recovery period was executed to further verify the role of hypothalamic ERα pathway. Results HIT enhanced the expression of ERα in hypothalamus rather than VAT in pre-, but not postmenopausal group, which was accompanied by elevated LFPs power density in α and β bands, enhanced EPOC and larger VAT loss than MIT. Chemical blocking of ERα suppressed EPOC and VAT catabolism mediated by HIT. Conclusion During the post-exercise recovery period, hypothalamic ERα pathway involved in the HIT induced EPOC elevation and VAT reduction in premenopausal female rats.