The effect of high-intensity interval training and high-protein diet on the apoptotic indices of caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 in the cardiac tissue of obese male rats

Obesity is involved in the apoptosis of cardiac cells and the development of cardiovascular diseases. Exercise training and diet modification can affect apoptotic indices. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and high-protein diet (HPD) on the apoptotic indices of caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 in the cardiac tissue of obese rats. In the present experimental study, 40 obese male rats were divided into five equal groups, including HIIT (90% VO2max, 5 sessions per week, 10 weeks), HPD, HIIT+HPD, obesity control-1 (OC-1), obesity control-2 (OC-2), and eight non-obese rats were also considered in the non-obese control (NC) group. Cardiac tissue was extracted 48 hours after the last intervention session to measure the levels of caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests (P≤0.05). The caspase-3 and Bax levels in the HIIT+HPD group was significantly lower than in the HIIT, HPD, and OC-1 groups. On the other hand, the HIIT and HPD groups showed a significantly higher Bcl-2 level than the OC-1 and NC groups. Also, there was a significantly higher of Bcl-2 to Bax ratio in the HIIT and HIIT+HPD groups compared with the OC-1 group. According to the results of the present study, a combination of HIIT and HPD improves the apoptotic status of cardiac tissue. It seems that the combination of HIIT and HPD provides the necessary adaptations to inhibit obesity-induced apoptosis in the cardiac tissue of obese rats.