Preventive effect of high-intensity interval training on the expression levels of mitochondrial biogenesis genes and histological changes in testis of rats with doxorubicin toxicity

Abstract

doxorubicin is used to treat 50% of all cancers, but it imposes many toxic effects to tissues. HIIT exercises has divers biological effects on cells, such as anti-inflammatory and protective effect against DNA damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HIIT exercise on the expression levels of mitogenic biogenic genes (NRF-2,SIRT-1,PGC-1α), as well as tissue changes in testicles of male rats with doxorubicin-toxicity. Method: Thirty rats (250-300 g) were randomly assigned into four groups: control, HIIT(49 minutes daily for 6 weeks), doxorubicin(20 mg/kg,72 hours before killing), doxorubicin and HIIT(HIIT exercises for 49 minutes daily for 6 weeks ,then doxorubicin 20 mg/kg ). Before surgery, all rats were anesthetized and testicles were sampled. Real-time PCR method and specific primers were used to evaluate the effect of HIIT on the expression alterations of mitochondrial genes. the H&E staining method was used to examine the histological changes of the testis (population of spermatogenic cell types, necrosis, inflammation, atrophy). Result: doxorubicin led to significant decrease in the gene expression of NRF-2,SIRT-1,PGC-1α and doing HIIT exercise in rates receiving doxorubicin significantly increased the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis genes( NRF-2,SIRT-1,PGC-1α )in rats testicles(p<0.05). Doing HIIT exercises showed a significant reduction in tissue histological damages(population of spermatogenic cells ,necrosis, inflammation, atrophy) of the testicles of doxorubicin-receiving rats.