The effect of eight weeks of resistance training and testosterone enanthate consumption on the expression of BAX and BCL-2 genes in liver tissue of female rats

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are often used by athletes as an anabolic drug to improve athletic performance. The aim of this study was the effect of eight weeks of resistance training and testosterone enanthate consumption on the expression of BAX and BCL-2 genes in liver tissue of female rats.

In this experimental study, 24 female mice aged 8 weeks and weighing 200 g were prepared from Institut Pasteur (Iran). Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups after 1 week of introduction 1) control group (n = 8), 2) exercise group (n = 8) and 3) testosterone + exercise group (n = 8). Eight-week resistance training protocol (24-step ladder with weights), five days of training per week with two days of rest per week, in which weights were 40% of female rats' body weight in the first week and 20% of body weight was added every week and two sessions per week Weighing was performed. The mice in the testosterone group were then injected with a steroid (testosterone enanthate at a dose of 20 mg three times a week). Sampling was performed on all animals with completely similar conditions, followed by 12 to 14 hours of fasting and 72 hours after the last training session and testosterone injection. Laboratory analysis of BAX and BCL-2 gene levels of liver tissue was determined using special commercial kits by real-time PCR.

Testosterone injection resulted in a significant increase in the expression of liver BAX gene in resistant female rats. Also, the expression of BCL-2 gene in liver tissue decreased due to testosterone consumption, which was not significant.

It can be thought that testosterone consumption causes apoptosis in liver cells, which may lead to liver disease in resistance-trained rats.