Effects of aerobic training on the expression of some pro- and anti-apoptotic genes in the myocardium of rats after methamphetamine withdrawal

The use of methamphetamine leads to numerous cell damage. This study aimed to investigate the effect of six weeks of aerobic training on the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes in the myocardium of rats after withdrawal from ethamphetamine.

32 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (methamphetamine group, methamphetamine then withdrawal group, methamphetamine then withdrawal then training group and methamphetamine then withdrawal then normal life without intervention group (control group)). Methamphetamine was injected intraperitoneally and in the first week in the amount of 10 mg/kg twice a day. From the second to the sixth week, every week, 1 mg/kg was added to the injection dose. The training protocol includes 6 weeks of aerobic training on a treadmill with moderate intensity for 60 minutes a day and 5 days a week. The expression levels of BAX and Bcl-2 genes were evaluated in rat myocardial tissue. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance at a significance level of P≤0.05.

Methamphetamine increased apoptosis by increasing BAX gene expression, decreasing Bcl-2 gene expression and BAX/Bcl-2 ratio. methamphetamine withdrawal and aerobic training caused a significant decrease in BAX gene expression, BAX/Bcl-2 ratio and an increase in Bcl-2 gene expression (P≤0.05).

Methamphetamine use can increase the expression of some pro-apoptotic genes and decrease the expression of myocardial anti-apoptotic genes. On the other hand, methamphetamine withdrawal and aerobic training can reduce the process of apoptosis in the myocardium of rats.