Effect of Endurance Swimming Training and Silymarin Treatment on Changes in Liver Apoptotic Index in Pregnant Rats Exposed to Cadmium

Abnormal regulation of apoptosis causes progressive pathological processes in the placenta of pregnant women and affects on fetal growth. The aim of this study was to investige the effects of endurance swimming training and silymarin treatment during pregnancy on cadmium exposure -induced liver apoptotic index in pregnant rats. In this expremental study 72 female rats divided into 9 groups. Training program consisted of endurance swimming, from the first day of pregnancy until delivery. Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) was given as drinking water (400 mg/kg/l). Silymarin was injected subcutaneously (100 mg/kg) 3 times a week. Apoptotic index was determined by nonradioactive in situ end labeling method using TUNEL immunocytochemical technique. The ANOVA and post hoc LSD (Least Significant Difference) tests were used to analyze the findings of study. Cadmium significantly increased liver apoptotic index (p=0.001). Swimming training induced no significant change in liver apoptotic index (p=0.424). Swimming training and silymarin treatment significantly decreased liver apoptotic index compared to cadmium (p=0.001). Endurance swimming training in combination with silymarin treatment during pregnancy can significantly counteract with cadmium-induced apoptotic index apoptosis in the liver of the pregnant rats.