Crosstalk between tight junction genes and muscle strength: Applying supplement and resistance training to old male wistar rats

Abstract

Aim of this study was to determine the relations among the tight junction (TJs) genes, muscle strength and cross-sectional area (CSA) influenced by resistance training with or without specific supplement (a combination of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium probiotics, leucine amino acid and Vitamin-D). For this purpose, 25 male wistar rats in two age groups (3 months in young control and 16-24 months in four other groups) randomly divided in 5 equal groups (old and young control, resistance training, supplement and resistance training plus supplement). After 8 weeks of resistance training trice a week and oral gavage of supplement 5 times per week there were no any relation between grip strength and muscle CSA with zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin (Occ) genes. But result of one-way ANOVA revealed that there were significantly differences among study groups in TJs genes, muscle strength and CSA (P≤0.05). Our finding showed that resistance training along with supplement can increase the level of ZO-1 (P=0.011), and Occ genes (P=0.023) expression. Indeed, resistance training plus supplement had synergistic effect on muscle CSA and grip strength (P=0.001) that can be comparable with young group. In addition, supplement alone appears that doesn’t have beneficial impact on physical function but surprisingly our finding shows strong inverse correlation between Occ and grip strength (p=0.015, r= -1.0) in supplement group which implies that although supplement alone can’t improve physical function but can maintain intestinal barrier function.

Keywords

• tight junction
• muscle enhancement
• strength training
• wistar rat
• hypertrophy
• probiotic supplementation