The effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on nesfatin, irisin and resistin and gene expression of PGC-1α in Wistar rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on nesfatin, irisin and resistin and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor 1-alpha (PGC-1α) gene in Wistar rats.

In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats (weight 300-250 g) were selected and randomly assigned into three groups: baseline control, eight-week control and HIIT training. The experimental group performed training protocol 4 days a week during 8 weeks, while the control group had no training program. To measure the levels of serum irisin, nesfatin, and resistin, the immunoassay method was used. Additionally, the real-time PCR method was applied to evaluate the relative PGC-1α mRNA level in soleus muscle. Independent T-test was used to analyze the data.

The results suggested that there was no significant difference between the concentration of nesfatin, irisin and resistin in the baseline control group compared to the eight-week control group (P > 0.05). HIIT increased the concentrations of nesfatin-1 and irisin (P = 0.0001), and significantly decreased resistin (P = 0.0001). Furthermore, eight weeks of HIIT significantly increased the PGC-1α mRNA (P = 0.0001).

According to the findings of the study, HIIT would possibly help to improve the levels of the factors, nesfatin, irisin, resistin and PGC-1α which involved in the energy balance homoeostasis.