The effect of eight weeks aerobic training with vitamin E supplementation on some markers of mitochondrial biogenesis in the brain tissue of rats with Parkinson's disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training with vitamin E supplementation on the mitochondrial biogenesis marker sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome gamma receptor activated with coactivator alpha (PGC-1α) in the brain tissue of rats with Parkinson's disease.

In this experimental study, 40 Sprague-Dawley male rats (age 14-16 weeks and weight 250-270 grams) were given Parkinsonism with reserpine (2 mg/kg) were divided into groups (1) Res, (2) sham (Sh/soluble vitamin E), (3) AT, (4) VE and (5) AT+VE. In order to investigate the effects of Res on the variables, 8 rats were included in the healthy control group (HC). Aerobic training was done for eight weeks, five sessions per week and each session lasted 15-48 minutes. VE was also taken orally at 30 mg/kg daily.

SIRT1 and PGC-1α mRNA values in AT, VE and AT+VE groups were significantly higher than Res group (P≤0.05). In addition, SIRT1 and PGC-1α values in the AT+VE group were significantly higher than the AT and VE groups (P≤0.05). SIRT1 mRNA values in AT (P=0.02), VE (P=0.018) and AT+VE (P=0.001) groups were significantly higher than Res group. It was also significantly higher in AT+VE group than AT (P=0.001) and VE (P=0.001) groups. Also, PGC-1α mRNA values in AT (P=0.02), VE (P=0.001) and AT+VE (P=0.001) groups were significantly higher than Res group. It was also significantly higher in AT+VE group than AT (P=0.001) and VE (P=0.001) groups.

It seems that although aerobic training and vitamin E supplementation alone have an effect on mitochondrial biogenesis markers in brain tissue following neurodegenerative disorders; but their interactive effect is much more favorable than the effect of each of them alone.