Protective effect of alpha‐lipoic acid, aerobic or resistance exercise from colitis in second hand smoke exposed young rats

Summary The role of second hand smoke (SHS) exposure on ulcerative colitis is not known. Our aim was to examine the effects of α‐lipoic acid (ALA), chronic aerobic (AE) or resistance exercise (RE) on SHS exposed rats with colitis. Sprague‐Dawley male rats (150‐200 g, n=54) were selected for colitis induction. Among the colitis groups, one group was exposed to SHS (6 d/wk, 4 cigarettes/d) and the other was not. The SHS group was divided into subgroups as follows: sedentary; AE (swimming; 3 d/wk); and RE (climbing with weight; 3 d/wk). After 5 weeks, colitis was induced by intrarectal acetic acid. All groups had subgroups that were given subcutaneously ALA (50 mg/kg per day) or vehicle for 3 days. Following decapitation, colon tissues were sampled to examine malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, luminol and lucigenin chemiluminenscence, macroscopic scoring and histologic examination. ANOVA and Student's t‐test were used for statistical analysis. The increased macroscopic and microscopic scores, MPO, MDA, luminol and lucigenin measurements in colitis and SHS‐colitis groups were decreased via ALA (P