The effect of endurance training and vitamin C consumption in the conditions of air pollution on the expression of apoptotic proteins BAX and Bcl-2 in the brain of male Wistar rats

Factors such as exercises training and taking antioxidant supplements can moderate or increase apoptosis. Therefore, this present study aimed to the effect of endurance training and vitamin C consumption in the conditions of air pollution on the expression of apoptotic proteins BAX and Bcl-2 in the brain of male Wistar rats.

In this experimental study, 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: 1) polluted air control, 2) supplement, 3) training, 4) training+supplement, and 5) healthy air control .Rats trained in polluted air were maintained in a special chamber to simulate polluted air and performed endurance training protocol .Vitamin C supplement groups received the supplement at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Data analysis was done through One-Way-ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests in SPSS version 26 software.

There is a significant difference in BAX and BCL-2 protein gene expression between the groups (P≤0.0001). This significant difference was the increase in BAX protein expression in the training+supplement group as well as the healthy air control group compared to other groups (P≤0.05). In the training and supplement groups were seen a decrease in BCL-2 protein expression compared to the control group (polluted and healthy) (P≤0.05).

Considering the increase in BAX and decrease in BCL-2 expression, it is possible that training in polluted air can lead to cell damage related to apoptosis. Also, the use of vitamin C supplement alone or together with training cannot modulate the apoptosis of brain cells.