Introduction: Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophic factor family that plays key roles in regulating survival, growth and maintenance of neurons. Plasma BDNF is thought to help in the adaptation to the exercise; however, the effects of exercise interventions on BDNF are not well understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute resistance training on plasma BDNF in rats.
Methods: Twenty five female Wistar rats were selected and divided randomly into control and resistance training groups. Ladder climbing while carrying weights was considered as resistance training task. Each session contained three sets of training with five repetitions. In group resistance training, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the exercise, the animals were anesthetized and blood samples were taken. In order to evaluate BDNF content, ELISA kit method was employed and for the statistical analysis, ANOVA test with the help of SPSS  software (Version 18) were used. The significant level was set at P<0.05.
Results: Results showed that in comparison to the control group, plasma BDNF levels in the members of the training group increased significantly immediately 24 and 72 h after exercise (p=0.001, p=0.09 and p=0.027, respectively).
Conclusions: It could be concluded that resistance training affects plasma BDNF. Thus, resistance exercise could be considered as one of the proper models to examine the molecular behavior of this neurotrophin.
Keywords: resistance training, plasma BDNF, Wistar rat.