HIIT effects on Troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide in rats undergone radiotherapy

Heart damage is one of the complications of radiotherapy. Due to the favorable effect of exercise training on the heart, this study aimed to investigate the impact of HIIT training on Troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide in rats undergone radiotherapy.

In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, HIIT, radiotherapy, and radiotherapy + HIIT. After anesthesia, radiotherapy was performed using an 11 Gy dose of the linear accelerator. The training program of HIIT and HIIT + radiotherapy groups included 10 weeks of HIIT. To assess the serum levels of troponin-I and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), five ml of blood was taken 24 hours after the last training session. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data at a significance level of P<0.05.

The results showed that the levels of troponin I in HIIT or radiotherapy + HIIT groups were not significantly different from the control group (P<0.05). But there was a significant difference between the radiotherapy group and the other three groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between the BNP values ​​of any of the groups (P<0.05).

Radiotherapy seems to increase troponin I, but HIIT does not have this effect and even reduces its increased levels. Also, neither HIIT nor radiotherapy has an impact on BNP. Therefore, patients undergoing radiotherapy can use HIIT as an effective therapeutic intervention.