The effects of the intensity of interval training on mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins in the heart of male rats with myocardial infarction

Introduction and Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most common type of heart disease. According to recent studies, mitochondrial dysfunction has been accepted in the development of heart failure. Exercise training plays a protective role against cardiovascular disease. However, the role of proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics is not understood in response to exercise training. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the intensity of interval training on mitochondrial dynamic proteins in the heart of male rats with myocardial infarction. The present study was performed with experimental posttest design method with control group in 16 week wistar rats. In this study, after MI with ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and ensuring the creation of MI by echocardiography, rats were subjected to HIIT, MIIT and (LIIT training, Sham (MI-SED) and control (C). Six weeks after exercise, the levels of MFN2, DRP1 and PGC-1α proteins were measured by western blot . data analysis showed that proteins level of MFN2 and PGC-1α decreased significantly in MI-SED group compared to healthy control and DRP1 protein levels increased significantly (P≤0.05). Also, MFN2 and PGC-1α proteins increased in MIIT compared with MI-SED and DRP1 protein levels decreased as well (P≤0.05).
Discussion and Moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT) leads to improved mitochondrial fusion and fusion proteins in rats with myocardial infarction. While high and low intensity interval training, despite increasing MFN2 and PGC-1α and reducing DRP1, failed to improve fusion and mitochondrial fission