Different Effects of Acute and Chronic Strenuous Physical Exercise on Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Malondialdehyde (MDA) Levels, and Sperm Quality of the Wistar Rats

Background: Normal exercise can improve human physical abilities, but strenuous exercise can damage human cells. Strenuous exercise causes oxidative stress to the body. In order to determine the level of oxidative stress, it is important to check the levels of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the body. SOD is the first line of defence in fighting against the oxidative stress, whereas MDA is the result of oxidative stress cell damage in the body. The sperm cell is the one that is affected by oxidative stress. This research aimed to investigate the differences in the effects of acute and chronic strenuous exercise on SOD production, MDA, and sperm quality.Methods: The research was based on experimental design with post-test only control group design with Wistar rats. Eighteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 6). Group I: Normal control, Group II: Rats were treated to swim for about 25-40 minutes until they were drowning for 1 day (acute strenuous physical exercise), and Group III: Rats were treated to swim for about 25-40 minutes until they were drowning for almost every day for 2 weeks (chronic strenuous physical exercise). Examination of SOD and MDA levels was done using spectrophotometry, examination of sperm quality was done by looking at the morphology, motility, and sperm quantity through the light microscope at x1000 with haemocytometer.Results: Chronic strenuous exercise significantly affects the decreasing SOD levels, increasing MDA levels, and decreasing sperm quality compared to the control group and acute strenuous exercise (P < 0.05).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the chronic strenuous exercise effects increase oxidative stress and sperm damage