The effect of eight-week resistance training on BAX and BCL2 of hippocampus tissue in male rats

Nervous tissue apoptosis, especially of the hippocampus, has been identified as a potential contributor to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, and evidence suggests that exercise affects various aspects of nervous cell activity and may prevent the death of neurons cells. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight-week of resistance training on BAX and BCL2 in hippocampal tissue in male rats.

For this aim, 16 male rats were randomly divided into 2 groups of eight (resistance training  and control) and resistance training group exercised for 8 weeks and 3 days per weeks with eight frequency and 2 minutes rest between them with resistance ladder with 1 meter length and 85 degree angle. Sandwich Elisa method was used to measure BCL2 and BAX concentrations and U Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used to test the hypotheses.

There was significant difference in BCL2 and BAX of hippocampus tissue in compared to control group, so that eight week resistance training causes significant increase in BCL2 level in resistance exercise group as compared to control group. Also eight week resistance training causes significant decrease in BAX level of resistance exercise group as compared to control group. Furthermore, eight week resistance training cause significant decrease in BAX/BCL2 ratio in resistance groups as compared to control group (p<0.05).

The results of this study showed eight-week resistance training causes significant increase in BCL2 and significant decrease in BAX and BAX/BCL2 ratio. Thus, it can cause decrease hippocampus tissue apoptosis in male rats.