The effect of eight weeks of High-intensity Interval Training on the gene expression of the myogenic regulatory factors MyF5 and myogenin in the skeletal muscle of rats

Myogenesis plays an important role in the skeletal muscle reconstruction and growth. However, the impact of High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on the factors of this process is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks HIIT on myogenesis main factors, i.e. Myogenic Factor 5 (Myf5) and Myogenin in the rat's gastrocnemius muscle. In this experimental study, sixteen male Wistar rats (at age of 10 weeks, weight= 255 ± 25 gr) were randomly divided into two groups (control (n = 8) and HIIT (n = 8)). HIIT protocol was performed for 40 minutes, three days a week for eight weeks. 48 hours after the last training session, gastrocnemius muscle was extracted and MyF5 and myogenin gene expression were measured by Real Time-PCR. To analyze the data, independent T-test was used. Compared to the control group, MyF5 and myogenin gene expression significantly increased in the experimental group (P˂0.05). Additionally, gastrocnemius muscle weight in training group was significantly higher than the control group (P˂0.01). It seems that HIIT leads to a significant increase in the expression of MyF5, Myogenin, and gastrocnemius muscle weight in rats.