Effect of voluntary exercise on autophagy-related genes in heart tissue of high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Abstract

To date, beneficial effects of voluntary exercise have highlighted in improving HFD-induced cardiomyopathy, but the exact mechanism of its therapeutic effects has not yet been elucidated. In this study, effect of voluntary exercise on the expression levels of autophagy-related genes in cardiac tissue of high-fat diet-fed rats were examined. Methods: Forty rats were allocated into four groups; Control group (Control); Voluntary exercise group (Exercise); high-fat-diet group (HFD), and high-fat-diet + exercise (HFD + Exercise). After three months, the animals were killed with high dosage of ketamine and xylazine. Finally, their heart samples were removed for pathological studies and TNF-α and autophagy-related genes measurement. Results: H&E staining results showed pathological changes in cardiac tissue of HFD groups. Real-time PCR analysis showed the up-regulation of TNF-α, Becline-1, LC3 and P62 in the HFD groups compared to the control group. Voluntary exercise improved HFD-induced cardiomyopathy.