The effect of propolis and chicory consumption during eight weeks of resistance training on some indicators of liver tissue apoptosis in female mice consuming testosterone enanthate

 Steroid drugs have become popular among young people, especially among athletes with the aim of strengthening muscles and increasing physical fitness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of propolis and chicory consumption during eight weeks of resistance training on some indicators of liver tissue apoptosis in female mice consuming testosterone enanthate.

Methods and Materials: 

In this experimental study, 40 female mice aged 8 weeks and weighing 200 g were prepared from Institut Pasteur (Iran). Mice were randomly divided into 5 groups after 1 week of introduction 1) control (n = 8), 2) exercise (n = 8), 3) testosterone + exercise (n = 8), 4) testosterone + exercise + Propolis (n = 8) and 5) testosterone + exercise + chicory (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. Injection of steroids (Testosterone Enanthate at a dose of 20 mg) three times a week and the use of cleansers, propolis (400 mg per kg of body weight) in the form of gavage and chicory (6 g per kg of body weight) in the form of injections three times done per week.

 Testosterone injection resulted in a significant increase in liver BAX gene expression in trained female rats. Also, BCL-2 gene expression decreased in liver tissue due to testosterone consumption, which was not significant. Chicory and propolis significantly reduced liver tissue BAX gene expression, BCL-2 gene expression increased liver tissue, which was not statistically significant.

 It can be thought that testosterone consumption causes apoptosis in liver cells, which may lead to liver disease in resistance-trained rats, which use cleansers (chicory and propolis) by lowering BAX and increasing BCL-2 liver tissue and somehow inhibit apoptosis may play a protective role.