Interactive Effects of Exhaustive Exercise Training and Curcumin Supplementation on PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 Gene Expressions in Alcoholic Rats

Curcumin and exercise training are suggested to improve hepatic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of two weeks of swimming training and curcumin supplementation on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) gene expressions following ethanol consumption in Wistar male rats.

Totally, 32 Wistar male rats were divided into four equal groups, including control, exercise, curcumin and curcumin-exercise groups. Ethanol was gavaged to all groups (g kg-1) for four days. Then, the renunciation period (four days) started. The exercise period included two weeks, each week included five sessions of exhaustive swimming. Curcumin supplementation (50 mg kg-1) was used with trainings.

Curcumin supplementation demonstrated significant decreases in expression of PDGF-BB (P = 0.025) and TGF-β1 (P = 0.033) genes. In exercise groups, significant decreases were seen in expression of PDGF-BB (P = 0.007) and TGF-β1 (P = 0.001) genes. Interaction of exercise and curcumin resulted in significant decreases in expression of PDGF-BB (P = 0.040) and TGF-β1 (P = 0.013) genes.

In conclusion, expression decreases in PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 genes suggest that exercise and curcumin consumption can protect hepatic tissues through controlling hepatic satellite cell (HSC) activation, preventing negative effects of ethanol.