The Effect of Combined Resistance-Aerobic Training Along with Olive Oil Consumption on some Genes Involved in Apoptosis and the Balance of Induced Parkinsonian Rats

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder associated with the destruction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Physical exercise can control the risk of neuronal damage. The compounds of olive oil have a modulating effect on the activity of the brain cholinergic system. The present study aimed to investigate 8 weeks of combined aerobic resistance training with olive oil consumption on the balance and some apoptotic genes of the substantia nigra of the brain in Parkinsonian rats.

Forty- eight male rats were divided into 8 groups (n=6). 6-Hydroxydopamine was used to induce Parkinson's disease. Olive oil (0.4ml/daily) was fed for 8 weeks to the target group. Thirty minutes aerobic exercise was performed on a treadmill at a speed of 11 meters per minute with an intensity of 60 to 65% of VO2max. Resistance exercise started by climbing a ladder with weights to the rat's tail with 30% of body weight, which reached 100% of body weight at the end of the eighth week. To check the balance of the mice, a balance bar was used; the expression level of genes was measured using Real time-PCR method. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance and Thomhan's post hoc test at a significance level of p<0.05.

A significant increase in PINK-1and AKT gene expression levels and a decrease in caspase-3 and p53 gene expression levels were observed in the exercising group, exercising with and without consuming olive oil and corn oil compared to the Parkinson's group (p=0.001). However, there was no significant difference between these three groups (p>0.05). Balance improvement was observed in rats with exercise and olive oil consumption compared to the parkinsonian group (p=0.001).

8 weeks of combined resistance-aerobic training causes a significant increase in the expression level of AKT and PINK1 genes and a decrease in the expression level of caspase-3 and P53 genes in Parkinsonian rats. Also, this type of exercise, along with the consumption of olive oil improves balance in Parkinsonian rats.