Effect 12 week high- intensity interval training and Endurance intensity training on proteins of AMPK and ERRα in elderly rats

Exercise activities increase the proteins, enzymes and mitochondrial functions in humans and animal samples. The purpose of this study was comparison of 12-weeks high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous training (CT) on mitochondrial proteins of AMPK and ERRα in gastrocnemius muscle in elderly rats. In this study 36 elderly Wistar rats 18 months (250-350g) were randomly divided into three groups: HIIT, CT, and control group. Exercise in the HIIT group was started in the first week of 16 minutes (2 minutes at 85-90% VO2max and 2 minutes’ recovery period at 45-50% VO2max), which reached 28 minutes in the 12th week. The training program in the CT group was 30 minutes (at 65-70% VO2max) and was reached to 60 minutes in the 12th week. The expression levels of AMPK and ERRα proteins in gastrocnemius muscles were assessed by Western blot method. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data. The protein expression of AMPK was significantly increased in the HIIT (P<0.001) and CT (P<0.01) group compared to control group. Also, the proteins of AMPK were significantly increased in the HIIT group compared to CT group (P<0.05). The expression of Tfam was significantly increased in the HIIT group (P<0.01) and CT group (P<0.05) compared to the control group. HIIT compared to CT has a greater increase in expression of AMPK and ERRα proteins in the gastrocnemius muscle of elderly rats.