EVALUATION OF HIF-1Α RESPONSE AND THE RATE OF BRONCHIAL AND BRONCHIOLE APOPTOSIS IN LUNG TISSUE OF MALE WISTAR RATS IN CASE OF DECREASED EXERCISE LOAD AND HYPOBARIC HYPOXIA CONDITIONS BELONGING TO HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING

Achieving the peak of athletic performance by being in environmental conditions such as hypobaric hypoxia and maintaining it by reducing exercise pressure is of great importance for athletes, among which injuries to internal organs such as lung tissue due to these conditions are less considered. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response of HIF-1α and the rate of bronchial and bronchiole apoptosis in lung tissue of male Wistar rats following reduced exercise load in hypoxic hypoxia.

The samples of the present study included 24 male Wistar rats (8 control, 16 experimental), healthy and without disease (4 weeks with a mean weight of 72 9 9 g). The experimental group was kept in hypobaric hypoxia for 3 weeks after 6 weeks of periodic training. Half of the experimental rats performed periodic exercises with less intensity (Taper) during three weeks of exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. To measure HIF-1α levels and bronchial apoptosis and pulmonary bronchioles, lung tissue was removed and assayed. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance.

Findings showed that exposure to hypobaric hypoxia caused a significant increase in HIF-1α and bronchial apoptosis and pulmonary bronchioles (p ≥ 0.05). Taper was also associated with a significant decrease (p ≥ 0.05) in HIF-1α and bronchial apoptosis and lung tissue bronchioles compared to hypobaric hypoxia and high-intensity interval training.

Exposure to hypobaric hypoxia is associated with an increase in HIF-1α and bronchial apoptosis and pulmonary bronchioles, which can be used as a method to reduce HIF-1α and bronchial apoptosis and pulmonary bronchioles.