The Effect of Resistance Training Along with Royal Jelly Supplementation on Expression of Nerve Growth Factor and Tyrosine Kinase A Receptor in the Hippocampal Tissue of Alzheimer's Rats

Current study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) along with royal jelly (RJ) supplementation on hippocampal expression of nerve growth factor (proNGF) and p75 receptor in a rat’s model of Alzheimer's disease. 

42 male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with Trimethyltin chloride (8 mg/kg). Then, the rats were randomly divided into seven equal groups control, RT, RT + supplementation of RJ 100 mg/kg (RT+RJ100), RT+supplementation of RJ200 (RT+RJ200), supplementation of RJ100, supplementation of RJ200, and sham group. Supplement groups received 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of RJ for eight weeks. The incremental RT protocol was performed for eight weeks, three weekly sessions at intensity according to 30-100% of body weight.

The RT protocol significantly increased proNGF expression compared to the control group. In addition, RJ100 and RJ200 resulted in a significant increase in the expression of proNGF and p75. Furthermore, the interaction effect of RT+RJ100 and RT+RJ200 induced a considerable increase in proNGF and p75 expression. Also, the impact of RJ on proNGF and p75 expression was dose-dependent, and the effect of the 200 mg/kg dose was significantly higher than the 100 mg/kg dose.

Both RT protocol and RJ supplementation synergistically increase neurotrophin expression in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's rats. The effects of RJ in combination use are dose-dependent, with higher doses having higher effects on neurotrophin and receptor expression. In the case of using a single dose of RJ, a lower dose is more desirable.