The use of endurance regimens could be improved by defining their respective effectiveness on aerobic fitness and brain health that remains controversial. We aimed at comparing work-matched high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on aerobic performance and muscular plasticity markers in healthy rats. Cognitive functions and brain plasticity markers were also investigated following the 8-week training. Rats performed the incremental exercise test and behavioural tests before and after training at day 1 (D1), D15, D29 and D57. Key cerebral markers were assessed by Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to provide information on brain function related to angiogenesis, aerobic metabolism and neurotrophin activity at D59. Muscular protein levels involved in angiogenesis and aerobic metabolism were measured in both triceps brachii and soleus muscles. HIIT induced superior improvement of aerobic fitness compared to MICT, as indicated by enhancement of speed associated with lactate threshold (S_LT) and maximal speed (S_max). In the triceps brachii muscle, markers of angiogenesis and aerobic activity were upregulated as well as myokines involved in neuroplasticity. Moreover, levels of key brain plasticity markers increased in the hippocampus after 8 weeks of HIIT, without improving cognitive functions. These findings might contribute to define physical exercise guidelines for maintaining brain health by highlighting the promising role of HIIT when using S_LT for distinguishing low running speed from high running speed. Further studies are required to confirm these brain effects by exploring synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis mechanisms when exercise intensity is standardized and individualized.

耐力养生法的使用可以通过定义它们各自对有氧健身和大脑健康的有效性来改进，但这仍然存在争议。我们的目的是比较工作匹配的高强度间歇训练（HIIT）与中等强度持续训练（MICT）对健康大鼠有氧表现和肌肉可塑性标志物的影响。经过 8 周的训练后，还对认知功能和大脑可塑性标记进行了调查。大鼠在第 1 天 (D1)、D15、D29 和 D57 训练前后进行增量运动测试和行为测试。通过蛋白质印迹和定量聚合酶链反应评估关键脑标志物，以提供与血管生成、有氧代谢和 D59 神经营养素活性相关的脑功能信息。测量了肱三头肌和比目鱼肌中参与血管生成和有氧代谢的肌肉蛋白水平。与 MICT 相比，HIIT 显着改善了有氧健康，如与​​乳酸阈值 (S _LT ) 和最大速度 (S _max ) 相关的速度增强所表明的。在肱三头肌中，血管生成和有氧活动的标志物以及参与神经可塑性的肌因子均上调。此外，经过 8 周的 HIIT 训练后，海马体中关键的大脑可塑性标志物的水平有所增加，但认知功能却没有改善。这些发现可能有助于定义维持大脑健康的体育锻炼指南，强调 HIIT 在使用 S _LT区分低跑步速度和高跑步速度时的有希望的作用。 需要进一步的研究来通过探索运动强度标准化和个性化时的突触可塑性和神经发生机制来证实这些大脑效应。