The effect of a period of resistance training on Thrombosponidine-1 and Follistatin-like-1 in heart tissue of obese male rats

Physiological angiogenesis and homeostasis of blood vessels is a complex process that is regulated at a high level by the balance between positive proteins such as follistatin-like factor-1 (FSTL-1) and negative proteins such as thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). While there is considerable evidence about the role of positive factors in angiogenesis, however, the role of negative factors is not well defined. In physiological conditions, such as resistance training as one of the effective training methods to improve cardiovascular function, the role of these factors is not properly known. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of thrombospondin-1 and follistatin-like factor-1 of heart tissue to six weeks of resistance training in obese male rats.

In an experimental study, 20 Wistar male rats were divided into two equal groups of control and experimental based on weight homogenization. The experimental group participated in a six-week training protocol with a frequency of three training sessions per week, and each session included 10 repetitions with a 90-second rest interval, climbing a resistance training ladder at a height of one meter and an 85-degree incline with a weight attached to the base of the tail (according to the maximum weight carrying capacity of each rat). 48 hours after the last training session, TSP-1 and FSTL-1 values in heart tissue were evaluated using ELISA method. In order to examine the changes between groups, independent t-test were used at a significance level of p<0.05.

The findings showed that performing six weeks of resistance training protocol in the experimental group compared to the control group caused a significant increase in FSTL-1 values (p=0.0001) and a non-significant decrease in TSP-1 values (p=0.09).

It was determined based on the results of this study that intervention of exercise for six weeks of resistance exercises can have positive effects on the development of angiogenesis process in heart tissue. Based on the findings of this study, it seems that six weeks of resistance training, despite the significant decrease in TSP-1 as an inhibitory factor in the angiogenesis process and an increase in FSTL-1 values as an angiogenesis stimulating factor, may have positive effect on improving blood supply to the heart muscle in obese subjects. The data of the present study refer to the role of resistance training in facilitating intracellular signaling pathways that modulate some inhibitory factors and stimulatory factors in heart tissue angiogenesis in obese rats.