فصلنامه علوم زیستی ورزشی
پیاپی 53 (تابستان 1401)

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapy treatment for various cancers, but its use has been restricted due to cardiotoxicity effects. Studies about the protective effect of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and its mechanisms are rare. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of HIIT against the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity on the level of miR-499 expression which is widely expressed under the physiological conditions in the cardiomyocytes.

Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n=6/group) including DOX (20 mg/kg body weight), HIIT (eight weeks, and seven 4-minutes sets of intervals at 80%–90% of VO2max interspersed with 3 minutes periods at 65%–75% of VO2max), HIIT+DOX and Control groups. The mRNA expression level was determined using the RT-PCR method. One-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc test was used for statistical analysis of data (α<0.05).

The results showed that DOX-induction significantly increased the MIR-499 expression in the left ventricular tissue of the rats’ heart (P<0.05). Also, the expression level of MIR-499 was increased after exercise, but this difference was not statistically significant. Exercise before the DOX-induction also led to a significant reduction of MIR-499 expression in the HIIT+ DOX group compared with the DOX group (P<0.05).

Therefore, performing HIIT before DOX induction can reduce the changes in MIR-499 expression caused by DOX. Therefore, HIIT could be a proper strategy for protecting the heart against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by reducing MIR-499 expression.

This study aimed to determine the effect of eight weeks of combined training and vitamin D supplementation on some indicators of liver damage, performance, and depression of women addicted to methamphetamine and heroin.

In this quasi-experimental study design, 32 women addicted to methamphetamine and heroin, with an average age of 28.34 ± 6.7 years, an average weight of 62.06 ± 10.24 kg, and BMI of 24.10 ± 2.93 were voluntarily selected from Fereshteh quit addiction camp in Tabriz and were randomly divided into four groups of Training, Training + Supplement (vitamin D, 2000 IU per day), Supplement, and control. The combined training group program consisted of six circular resistance movements with an intensity of 40–70% of one-repetition maximum in stations and aerobic training with an intensity of 50–70% of heart rate reserve in the form of 5-minute aerobic intervals for eight weeks and three sessions per week. Before and after the training protocol, blood samples were taken from the volunteers to measure ALT, AST, and ALP enzymes. Cravings, depression, sports performance, and muscle endurance were also measured. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normal distribution of the data, and the Kruskal-Wallis and ANOVA tests with Bonferroni correction were used to compare the groups at a significance level of α<0.05.

Liver AST and ALP enzymes showed a significant decrease in the Training + Supplement group compared with other groups (P=0.03). But ALT enzyme did not decrease significantly in all groups (P<0.05). Depression (P=0.01), craving (P=0.025), 600 m running, and muscular endurance were significantly improved in the Training group compared with the control group (P=0.001), but there was no significant difference in the supplement group compared with the control group (P <0.05).

Combined training along with Vitamin D supplementation can have beneficial effects on reducing liver damage and depression, and increasing muscle performance and endurance in addicted women.

Oxidative stress is associated with a variety of inflammatory and metabolic diseases, including obesity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training and Royal Jelly on oxidative stress and liver tissue enzymes of obese rats.

In this experimental study, 45 male Wistar rats (mean weight= 187.5±9.37 grams) were divided into 5 groups: Normal Diet (ND), High-Fat Diet (HFD), High-Fat Diet + Training (HFDT), High-Fat Diet + Royal Jelly (HFDRJ) and High-Fat Diet + Training + Royal Jelly (HFDTRJ). The supplement groups orally received 100 mg of royal jelly (per kg of body weight) diluted in distilled water during the intervention period. An aerobic training program including running on a treadmill with an intensity of 50-60% of oxygen consumption (VO2max), was performed Five days a week for eight weeks. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test at a significance level of α=0.05.

There was a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and a significant decrease in Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX), and Catalase (CAT) in HFD group compared with ND group (P=0.001). Also, a significant decrease in MDA values and a significant increase in amounts of SOD, GPX, and CAT was observed in HFDT, HFDRJ, and HFDTRJ groups compared with the HFD group; and in the HFDTRJ group compared with HFDT and HFDRJ groups (P=0.001).  

It seems that the intervention of aerobic training and royal jelly can help to reduce oxidative stress and improve liver enzymes during obesity.

The effect of sports training with different intensities on the induction or inhibition of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis process in testicular tissue has remained unknown.This study aimed to investigate the effect of continuous training with low intensity (LICT), moderate (MICT), and high intensity (HICT) on the apoptosis process in the testicular tissue of rats.

For this purpose, 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into LICT, MICT, HICT, and Control groups. The LICT, MICT, and HICT groups were trained with an intensity of 50-60%, 65-70%, and 80-85% of the maximum velocity, respectively. Protein and gene expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3 were measured by Western Blot and quantitative PCR methods. The research data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. 

The LICT and MICT groups showed no significant statistical changes in the Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 expression levels compared to the control group (P>0.05). However, In the HICT group, the expression of Bcl-2 decreased significantly (P=0.01) and the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 increased significantly (P<0.05). Also, the number of apoptotic cells in LICT and MICT did not show a significant change, but it increased significantly in the HICT group (P=0.001). 

It seems that eight weeks of LICT and MICT has no significant effect on the occurrence or induction of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis process in testicular tissue. While the HICT group induces the apoptosis process by decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 and increasing the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 and increasing the number of apoptotic cells in the testicular tissue.

This research aimed to investigate the relationship between HIF1-α and VEGF gene genotypes and changes in aerobic capacity following eight weeks of moderate-intensity endurance training in inactive women.

Twenty-three inactive women aged 34 to 43 years old were conveniently selected and performed aerobic training for eight weeks and five 30-minute sessions per week with an intensity of 55% to 75% of maximum heart rate. Before and after the training period, aerobic capacity was measured by the Bruce test. A saliva sample was taken and different genotypes of the HIF1-α gene including CC and different genotypes of the VEGF gene including GG, CG, and CC were measured. Statistical methods of Paired t-test and ANOVA were used to observe mean differences in aerobic capacity and the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RLFP) method was used to check genotypes.

The results of changes in the aerobic capacity of the subjects and investigation of the relationship between the different genotypes of VEGF and HIF1-α genes following eight weeks of moderate-intensity endurance training, the aerobic capacity of CC and CT genotypes of the HIF1-α gene were equal pre and post-intervention (p=0.529). Also, GG, CC, and CG genotypes of the VEGF gene were equal to the CG genotype (p=0·873). The CT genotype of the HIF1-α gene has the most increase, but this increase was not significant. 

Therefore, Eight weeks of moderate-intensity endurance training increases the aerobic capacity of HIF1-a and VEGF gene profiles in inactive obese women, but the changes in aerobic capacity of these gene profiles are not significant.

L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that can affect some physiological responses, including protein synthesis and carbohydrate and fat metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the acute effect of L-arginine supplementation on fat and carbohydrate metabolism before, during, and after endurance exercise of athletes.

The present study was a single-blind crossover design with one group which were 16 to 20-year-old male football players from Shahrood city. This research was the time series model (including two time series of L-arginine or placebo consumption with an interval of two weeks) with repeated measurements In this way, on the testing day and after measuring the weight and height, the first stage of blood sampling was performed and the gas analyzer test was performed at rest, then the subjects consumed six grams of L-arginine or a placebo along with 400 ml of water. After 45 minutes, the second stage of blood sampling was done and the Bruce test was performed on a treadmill. Immediately after the test, the third stage of blood sampling was done and after 30 minutes of rest, the subjects participated in the last stage of blood sampling. blood samples’ and respiratory gases’ data were analyzed using an analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni correction.  

Acute consumption of L-arginine supplement decreased maximal fat oxidation and increased maximal carbohydrate oxidation and respiratory exchange ratio after progressive physical activities (P=0.001). In addition, acute L-arginine supplementation increased blood glucose (P=0.001) and glycerol concentrations (P=0.02).

Based on the findings of this study, acute consumption of L-arginine supplement lead to an increase in endurance performance and changes in metabolism during exercise in athletes.

Alzheimer's disease causes hippocampal degeneration, memory loss, and dementia. However, the effect of voluntary and forced endurance training and royal jelly consumption on this disease is not clear.

In this study, the effect of eight weeks of voluntary and forced endurance training and consumption of Royal Jelly (RJ) on NF-κB gene expression and antioxidant factors were investigated in trimethyltin (TMT)-treated Alzheimer’s rats.

After induction of Alzheimer's disease with TMT, 60 male rats were randomly divided into eight groups, including: first and last week slaughtered Alzheimer's rats control, voluntary training (VT), forced swimming training (ST), sham, voluntary training + RJ consumption (VT + RJ), forced swimming training + RJ Consumption (ST + RJ),  and Royal Jelly Consumption (RJ) groups. Also, 12 rats were placed equally in the first and last week slaughtered healthy control groups. The VT and ST groups were placed in a spinning wheel and a special swimming pool for rodents respectively, for eight weeks, and three 60-minute sessions per week using the overload principle. The RJ groups peritoneally received 100 mg/kg/day of royal jelly for eight weeks. One-way ANOVA was used to statistically analyze the values ​​of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Beta 2 Microglobulin (B2m), and NF-κB.

TAC gene expression in the hippocampal tissue of ST and VT groups was significant compared with the healthy group (P = 0.02), but MDA gene expression (P=0.165), B2m (P=0.060), and NF-κB (P=0.069) were not significant.

In general, voluntary and forced endurance training and Royal Jelly consumption improve the antioxidant gene expression in the hippocampal tissue of TMT-treated Alzheimer's rats.

One of the most important influential factors in the process of human physiological adaptations is angiogenesis; which helps to repair and grow body tissues by continuously creating blood vessels through angiopoietin activity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of three methods of moderate-intensity continuous, high-intensity continuous, and high-intensity intermittent training on the angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 genes expression in the subcutaneous fat tissue of male Wistar rats.

For this purpose, 32 male Wistar rats with an average weight of 236.3±34.5 grams and age of 8 weeks were randomly divided into four groups of intense intermittent running aerobic training (including four intense intervals with an intensity of 90% to 100% of VO2max and four low-intensity intervals at 50% to 60% of VO2max in a total time of 38 minutes), moderate-intensity continuous running aerobic training (including running at 65% of VO2max in a total time of 47 minutes), high intensity continuous running aerobic training (including running at 65% of VO2max in a total time of 40 minutes with an incremental incline of the treadmill with a 2% of incline every two weeks), and Control. Twenty-four hours after the last training session, after complete anesthesia, subcutaneous fat tissue samplings of the abdomen were done. The gene expression levels of angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 in subcutaneous fat tissue were measured by the RT-PCR method. Due to the non-normal distribution of data in some groups, Kruskal-Wallis statistical method was used.

The results showed that the angiopoietin-1 gene expression increased in all three training groups compared with the control group, which was significant in the moderate-intensity continuous group. Also, the angiopoietin-2 expression increased in all three groups compared with the control group, which was significant in the high-intensity continuous group. 

In general, continuous training seems to have a positive effect on the increase of angiopoietin-1 and -2 expression in subcutaneous fat tissue.