The effect of four weeks of resistance training and date pollen extract on gene expression of some of tight junction proteins of the spinal-blood barrier in male rats

Changes in the expression of blood-spinal barrier proteins play an important role in the move and development of neuro-inflammatory responses. This study investigated the effect of four weeks of resistance training and date pollen extract on the expression of claudin-5 and connexin-43 proteins in male rats.

30 male Wistar rats randomly divided into 6 groups: Control; Resistance training; DPP extract; Testosterone; DPP extract+ resistance training; Testosterone+ resistance training. The amount of 100 mg/kg date pollen extract was fed to mice by gavage for 4 weeks. Testosterone at a dose of 100 mg/ml was also used subcutaneously in the target group. Resistance training consisted of a four-week increasing training period on a 50-step ladder with 8 to 12 repetitions per session. Data were analyzed using statistical test in SPSS software version 23 at a significance level of 0.05.

Histological staining showed an increase in the amount of lipolysis, a decrease in the number and size of inflammatory cells in the nervous tissue of resistance training, date pollen extract and testosterone groups. Four weeks of resistance training caused a significant increase in the gene expression of claudin-5 (P=0.004) and connexin-43 (P=0.005). Four weeks of receiving DPP extract also had a significant increasing effect on the expression of these genes (P=0.005 and P=0.001). The most significant increase in claudin-5 and connexin-43 was related to resistance training/DPP extract and training/testosterone groups (P<0.05). 

Apparently, four weeks of resistance training and separate testosterone consumption is a suitable approach to increase the expression of blood-spinal barrier proteins, but the separate consumption of DPP extract has better effects. The combination of these interventions will have additional effects in improving the levels of these proteins and maintaining the integrity of the barrier.