@article{Zahra Hosseini Sisi_Ali Azarbayjani_Vafaeenasab_Peeri_Dehghani_2021, title={The effect of regular resistance exercise, vitamin D, and calcium supplements on the gastrocnemius muscle in rats in the post-menopausal period: An experimental study}, volume={19}, url={https://knepublishing.com/index.php/ijrm/article/view/8576}, DOI={10.18502/ijrm.v19i3.8576}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Background:</strong> Menopause is the natural termination of menstruation which affects the quality and important aspects of women’s life.</p> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> To evaluate the effect of regular resistance training (Ex) with vitamin D (Vit. D) and calcium (Ca) supplements in the postmenopausal period on muscle tissue in rats.</p> <p><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> In this experimental study, 72 female Wistar rats (8-10-wk old) were randomly divided into control, placebo, Vit. D, Ca, Ex, Ca + Vit. D, Ex + Ca, Ex + Vit. D, and Ex + Ca + Vit. D groups. Control and placebo groups were fed with a standard diet and sesame oil, respectively. Two months after the ovariectomy, Ex, Ca (35 mg/kg), and Vit. D (10000 IU) were administered in all groups except the control. The number of muscle and inflammatory cells, fiber diameter, endomysium thickness, and degenerative collagen fiber area were assessed through hematoxylin-eosin staining.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Muscle cell number was increased in the Ex + Vit. D + Ca, Vit. D + Ex, and Vit. D groups compared to the control group; also, inflammatory cell number showed significant increase in the Ex + Vit. D + Ca (12 ± 5.46), Vit. D + Ex (14 ± 3.25), Ex (13 ± 4.08), Vit. D (11 ± 3.26), Ca + Vit. D (10 ± 1.01), and Ca + Ex (9 ± 2.87) groups. Muscle fiber diameter in the Ex + Vit. D + Ca and Vit. D + Ex groups was higher than the other groups. Endomysium thickness was significantly decreased in the Ex + Vit. D + Ca and Vit. D + Ex groups compared to the control and placebo groups (p &lt; 0.001). Degenerative collagen fiber area showed a significant increase in the Ex + Vit. D + Ca and Vit. D + Ex groups (p ≤ 0.001) comparison with the control group.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Regular resistance exercise, Vit. D, and Ca supplements can improve muscle morphological features in the postmenopausal period.</p> <p><em><strong>Key words:</strong> Menopause, Muscle, Vitamin D, Calcium, Exercise.</em></p&gt;}, number={3}, journal={International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM)}, author={Zahra Hosseini Sisi, Seyedeh and Ali Azarbayjani, Mohammad and Vafaeenasab, Mohammadreza and Peeri, Maghsoud and Dehghani, Mohammadreza}, year={2021}, month={Mar.}, pages={283–292} }