Comparing sprint and endurance training on anxiety, depression and its relation with brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rats

•Sprint and endurance training increase BDNF in the brain.•Sprint training improves anxiety and depression more than continuous training.•There is significant correlation between BDNF and improvement in anxiety and depression following training. Although the response of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to low intensity exercise training, but the effect of intensive exercise training is not clear. Also, there is insufficient information about relationship between BDNF and depression and anxiety following intensive exercise. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6 weeks of intensive endurance training (ET) and sprint interval training (SIT) on brain BDNF and its relationship with anxiety and depression in Albino Wistar rats. Anxiety and depression of rats were measured by elevated plus maze (EPM) and tail suspension test (TST), respectively. All data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient at P