The Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training in Obese Female Rats before Pregnancy on Fatigue Time, Methylation of PGC-1α and Sarcolipin Genes in the Gastrocnemius Muscles of Their Offspring

Obesity and the need to control energy is considered to be one of the most important factors in the outbreak of chronic diseases all over the world. It must be taken into account due to transmission of its adverse effects from mother to offspring. Accordingly, the present study aims to investigate the effect of high-intensity periodic training in obese female rats before pregnancy on fatigue time, methylation of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) and sarcolipin genes in the Gastrocnemius Muscles of their offspring. To achieve this goal, 40 three-month-old Wistar female rats were bought and categorized into four groups: high-fat diet (250±22 g), control (170±30 g), training with high-fat diet (240±30 g) and training (190±33 g). The female rats became pregnant after six weeks of HIIT protocol. Their offsprings were divided, after birth, into two groups. By using specific PCR method, the first group were dissected to examine methylation of PGC-1α and sarcolipin. The second group performed swimming protocol after two months to assess fatigue level. One-way ANOVA test results demonstrated a significant decrease (P=0,001) in PGC-1α gene methylation amounts and a significant increase (P=0,001) in resistance to fatigue test between training group and the other groups and between training with high-fat diet group and high-fat diet group. Hence, HIIT before pregnancy in influential on PGC-1α gene methylation and the performance of rats’ offsprings (resistance to fatigue). Additionally, HIIT can reduce the effects of high-fat foods.