The effect of 12 weeks of endurance training on Wnt1, β-catenin and CyclinD1 gene and protein expression and echocardiographic indices in right ventricle of rats

Left ventricle remodeling by endurance training is relatively well established, but in the case of the right ventricle, the findings are paucity and controversial, and more research is needed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of intense endurance exercise on the right ventricle and to investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in this field.

In this experimental study, 16 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and training groups. The training group underwent intense endurance training, including a 12-week treadmill program. After echocardiography, the rats' hearts were extracted and collagen deposition was assessed by Masson trichrome staining, and Wnt1, β-catenin and cyclinD1 mRNA and protein levels in right ventricle were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Independent t-test was used to compare the means between the control and exercise groups.

Wnt1, β-Catenin and CyclinD1 mRNA levels in the training group were nonsignificantly higher than the control group. Western blot results showed statistically significant changes in Wnt1, Β-Catenin and CyclinD1 protein levels. The results of Masson Trichrome staining to identify collagen deposition show that there is no statistically significant difference between the training group and the control group.

It seems that prolonged intense endurance training may lead to right ventricular hypertrophy by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.