The effect of endurance training and vitamin C consumption in the conditions of air pollution on the expression of apoptotic proteins BAX and Bcl-2 in the brain of male Wistar rats

Abstract

Background: Factors such as exercises training and taking antioxidant supplements can moderate or increase apoptosis. Therefore, this present study aimed to the effect of endurance training and vitamin C consumption in the conditions of air pollution on the expression of apoptotic proteins BAX and Bcl-2 in the brain of male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: 1) polluted air control, 2) supplement, 3) training, 4) training+supplement, and 5) healthy air control .Rats trained in polluted air were maintained in a special chamber to simulate polluted air and performed endurance training protocol .Vitamin C supplement groups received the supplement at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Data analysis was done through One-Way-ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests in SPSS version 26 software. Results: There is a significant difference in BAX and BCL-2 protein gene expression between the groups (P≤0.0001). This significant difference was the increase in BAX protein expression in the training+supplement group as well as the healthy air control group compared to other groups (P≤0.05). In the training and supplement groups were seen a decrease in BCL-2 protein expression compared to the control group (polluted and healthy) (P≤0.05). Conclusion: Considering the increase in BAX and decrease in BCL-2 expression, it is possible that training in polluted air can lead to cell damage related to apoptosis. Also, the use of vitamin C supplement alone or together with training cannot modulate the apoptosis of brain cells.

Keywords

• endurance training
• vitamin c
• bax protein
• bcl-2 protein