Volume 28, Issue 4 (10-2025)
J Arak Uni Med Sci 2025, 28(4): 238-245 |
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Azadi Fard S, Moradi M, Malekipooya M. The Effect of a Period of Endurance Training with Electrical Stimulation on the Expression of ICAM and VCAM Genes in Heart Tissue of Fasted Obese Rats. J Arak Uni Med Sci 2025; 28 (4) :238-245
URL: http://jams.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-7777-en.html
URL: http://jams.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-7777-en.html
1- PhD Student of Sports Physiology, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Mahalat Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahalat, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran ,mehdy_morady59@yahoo.com
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran ,
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran
Abstract: (1009 Views)
Introduction: Since endurance training and a fasting diet are effective in reducing the symptoms of heart disease, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a period of endurance training with electrical stimulation on the expression of ICAM and VCAM genes in the heart tissue of obese fasting rats.
Methods: In this study, 35 male Wistar rats (8 weeks old, average weight 200 ± 19 g) were rendered obese and then randomly assigned to five groups of seven: obese control, fasting, fasting with endurance training, fasting with electrical stimulation, and fasting with endurance training with electrical stimulation. All groups except the obese control followed a 16/8 intermittent fasting protocol. The endurance training lasted 4 weeks, with 5 sessions per week, starting at 50% of maximal oxygen consumption in the first week and progressing to 65% by the fourth week. Electrical stimulation was delivered via foot shock (0.5 mA for 20 min). 24 hours after the last session, cardiac tissue was extracted under deep anesthesia. The expression levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 genes in the heart were measured using real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post-hoc test, with the significance level set at P ≤ 0.05.
Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that intermittent fasting, endurance training, and electrical stimulation—each independently—led to a significant reduction in the gene expression of vascular adhesion molecules in the cardiac tissue of obese rats (P = 0.001). Moreover, it appears that the combination of all three interventions exerts a greater effect in reducing the expression levels of these adhesion molecules in the cardiac tissue of obese rats (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Based on the findings, the simultaneous application of endurance training, intermittent fasting, and electrical stimulation exerts a considerable impact on decreasing the expression of VCAM and ICAM in cardiac tissue. However, it is still not possible to definitively determine the directionality of the individual or combined effects of intermittent fasting, endurance training, and electrical stimulation (foot-shock stimulation) on adhesion molecules under conditions of obesity and intermittent fasting.
Methods: In this study, 35 male Wistar rats (8 weeks old, average weight 200 ± 19 g) were rendered obese and then randomly assigned to five groups of seven: obese control, fasting, fasting with endurance training, fasting with electrical stimulation, and fasting with endurance training with electrical stimulation. All groups except the obese control followed a 16/8 intermittent fasting protocol. The endurance training lasted 4 weeks, with 5 sessions per week, starting at 50% of maximal oxygen consumption in the first week and progressing to 65% by the fourth week. Electrical stimulation was delivered via foot shock (0.5 mA for 20 min). 24 hours after the last session, cardiac tissue was extracted under deep anesthesia. The expression levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 genes in the heart were measured using real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post-hoc test, with the significance level set at P ≤ 0.05.
Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that intermittent fasting, endurance training, and electrical stimulation—each independently—led to a significant reduction in the gene expression of vascular adhesion molecules in the cardiac tissue of obese rats (P = 0.001). Moreover, it appears that the combination of all three interventions exerts a greater effect in reducing the expression levels of these adhesion molecules in the cardiac tissue of obese rats (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Based on the findings, the simultaneous application of endurance training, intermittent fasting, and electrical stimulation exerts a considerable impact on decreasing the expression of VCAM and ICAM in cardiac tissue. However, it is still not possible to definitively determine the directionality of the individual or combined effects of intermittent fasting, endurance training, and electrical stimulation (foot-shock stimulation) on adhesion molecules under conditions of obesity and intermittent fasting.
Keywords: Endurance training, Electrical stimulation, Cell adhesion molecules, Vascular adhesion molecule, Intermittent fasting, Obesity
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