The effect of four types of exercise training protocols on the angiopoietin-1 and canstatin expression in the left ventricle of Wistar rats

Considering the importance of prevention of risk factors in heart disease and lack of information about the effect of exercise training on angiopoietin 1 and canstatin expression, therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four types of exercise training protocols on the angiopoietin-1 and canstatin expression in left ventricle of Wistar rats.

For this purpose, 40 male Wistar rats with age of 8-weeks and an average weight of 237±33 grams were randomly divided into five groups (8 rats in each group), including control, moderate intensity training (MIT), high intensity training (HIT), high intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity swimming training groups (MIST). The training programs in experimental groups were performed for 8 weeks and 5 days a week. 48 hours after the last training session, the sampling was taken from cardiac tissue. Then, the angiopoietin-1 and canstatin expression were determined by PCR method. To analyze data, one way ANOVA and tukeywere used at a significance level of p≤0.05.

Angiopoietin-1 and canstatin expressions in each intervention groups were significantly decreased compared to the control group (p=0.001). The comparison of four types of training showed that angiopoietin-1 expression was significantly decreased only in MIST group as compared to the other training groups and canstatin expression was significantly decreased in HIT, MIT and MIST groups when compared to the HIIT group (p=0.001).

All of the four types of exercise training methods were able to reduce the expression of the studied genes,and make favorable changes in reducing the consequences of cardiac tissue injury. However, moderate-intensity swimming training seem to have more favorable effects with regard to non-weight bearing property, although further research is needed.