Effect of Continuous Aerobic Training with Citrus Aurantium L. on Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases Gene Expression in the Liver Tissue of the Elderly Rats

Aging impairs the function of genes involved in hepatic metabolisms, such as Mitogen-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K). Exercise and Citrus Aurantium (CA) have a beneficial effect on improving metabolic factors in aging. This study aimed to investigate the effect of aerobic training (T) with consumption of CA on the AMPK and PI3K gene expression levels in the liver tissue of elderly rats.

In this experimental study, 25 elderly female rats were divided into five groups of five animals per group. The groups included 1) control, 2) sham, 3) CA, 4) T, and 5) T+CA. Over the course of eight weeks, the T groups ran on the treadmill three sessions per week at 65% to 75% of the maximum running speed for 15 min in the first week to 31 min in the eighth week. The supplement groups also received 300 mg/kg/day of CA extract peritoneal. After 48 h of the last training session and CA consumption, AMPK and PI3K gene expression levels in the liver tissue were measured by the real-time PCR method.
(Ethic code: IR.IAU.M.REC.1399.032)

AMPK expression was significantly increased in CA (P=0.043), T (P=0.025,) and T+CA (P=0.009) groups, compared to the control group. Moreover, a significant increase in the PI3K expression was observed in the T+CA (P=0.031) group, compared to the control group.

The results of the present study showed that T and CA might improve liver cell function in elderly rats by increasing the expression of AMPK and PI3K genes.