Background: Apoptosis or programmed cell death plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart failure. Current evidence suggests that exercise training may alter apoptosis-related signaling in sensitive somatic tissues such as the myocardium. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of exercise training on Bcl-2 and Bax genes expression as key molecules involved in intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in the rat heart. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with a two-group experimental design (animal model) and sixteen three-month-old male rats were selected and randomly divided to two groups of exercise training (n = 8) and control (n = 8). Rats in the trained group participated in an exercise training program for 12 weeks (10-60 m min-1 , 24-33 min d-1 , 15%). The rat hearts were removed forty-eight hours after the last training session. RNA extraction and synthesis of cDNA was done, and Bax and Bcl2 genes expression was analyzed through the Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Kolmogorov-Smirnov and independent t-test were applied for statistical analysis of the data (P < 0.05). Results: The results showed that Bax gene expression and Bax/Bcl2 ratio of the trained group were significantly lower than the control group, 81% and 89%, respectively (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two groups in Bcl2 (P > 0.05). However, Bcl2 expression was higher in the trained group compared to the control group (11%). Conclusions: In general, it seems that three-month exercise training was effective in reducing cardiac mitochondrial pro-apoptotic protein. However, considering the results of the Bcl2 gene expression, more researches are needed to identify effects of exercise trainings on indices of myocardial apoptosis.

Background: Diet-induced obesity is associated with several cardiovascular diseases and myocardial apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on the myocardial apoptosis in the diet-induced obese rats. Methods: Thirty-two male rats, after an obesity induction period, were randomly selected and assigned to four groups including non-obese control (NOC; n=8), basal obese control (BOC; n=8), obese control (OC; n=8), and obese+HIIT (OT; n=8). NOC and BOC groups were sacrificed before the training period. The OT group underwent a HIIT program performed 5 times/week over 12 weeks. Rat hearts were removed 48 hours after the last training session. The Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome-c, Bid, caspase-8, as well as caspase-3 protein expressions were analyzed using western blotting. Data were analyzed using independent t test. Results: After obesity induction period, the Bax, Bid, cytochrome-c, caspase-8, caspase-3 proteins, and Bax/Bcl-2 in BOC were found to be significantly higher than those in NOC (P=0.025, P=0.0001, P=0.013, P=0.017, P=0.01, P=0.18, respectively). However, Bcl-2 protein in BOC was detected to be significantly lower than that in NOC (P=0.025). The results obtained after completing HIIT training showed that Bid, cytochrome-c, caspase-8, caspase-3, and Bax/Bcl-2 in OT were lower than those in OC (P=0.005, P=0.039, P=0.001, P=0.04, P=0.05, respectively). However, Bcl-2 protein in OT was significantly higher than that in OC (P=0.004). No significant difference was found between OT and OC regarding Bax protein (P=0.32). Conclusion: Diet-induced obesity may have exacerbated the myocardial apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. However, it seemed that HIIT training significantly prevented the increase of myocardial apoptosis in obese rats.

Background: Excessive apoptosis in the myocardium contributes to the pathogenesis of heart disease. Evidence indicates that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can alter myocardial apoptosis-related signaling. Objectives:The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of HIIT on some indices of apoptosis, including Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 in the myocardial tissue of male rats. Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats (age range: 8 -10 weeks) were randomized into three groups, including sham (n = 10), control (n = 10), and HIIT (n = 10). The experimental group underwent HIIT consisting of 2 -8 repetitions of 4-min high-intensity intervals (85% -90% peak speed) interspersed with low-intensity intervals (45% -50% peak speed), performed five times/week over 12 weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, animals' hearts were removed. The gene expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 were analyzed by the RT-PCR method. The independent t-test was used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05). Results:The gene expressions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were higher in the training group than in the control group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Regarding Bax and caspase-3 gene expression, although the mean levels were lower in the exercise group than in the control group, the differences were statistically insignificant (P = 0.57 and P = 0.27, respectively). Conclusions: Overall, it seems that HIIT significantly increases the expression of anti-apoptotic indicator Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in the myocardium of male rats. However, further studies are needed to show the effects of HIIT on myocardial apoptosis.

Background and aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is associated with fat accumulation and deposition in liver cells, is a serious risk factor for other diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Pilates training on hepatic fat content and liver enzymes in men with NAFLD in 2019. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 20 men with NAFLD were randomly divided into Pilates training (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The Pilates group participated in the Pilates training program for eight weeks (three 60-minute sessions per week), whereas the control group engaged in no regular physical activity. The body composition, anthropometric indices, liver fat content, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured before and after the training period. Eventually, data were analyzed using paired and independent t tests at a significance level of 0.05 by SPSS 18. Results: After eight weeks of Pilates training, liver fat content in the Pilates group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P=0.001). Further, the serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP significantly decreased in the Pilates group compared to the control group (P=0.04, P=0.05, and P=0.02, respectively). In addition, eight weeks of Pilates training significantly reduced body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat percentage, and the waist-to-hip ratio of patients, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that Pilates training could be effective in improving liver fat content and reducing the serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP in men with NAFLD. Furthermore, Pilates training helps to improve body composition and anthropometric indices in patients afflicted with NAFLD and can have a role in the management of this condition.

Background:The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of eight weeks' Pilates training on the hepatic fat content and liver enzymes in middle-aged men with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).