The Effect of Endurance Training Along with Cadmium Consumption on Bcl-2 and Bax Gene Expressions in Heart Tissue of Rats

Abstract

Background: Exposure to environmental pollution is a very important factor that disrupts human metabolism. Cadmium is one of the toxic elements of the environment that has deleterious effects on various organs of the body, induces oxidative stress in the cell, and ultimately causes apoptosis. Objectives: The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of endurance exercise along with cadmium consumption on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes in the heart tissue of rats. Methods: In the present experimental research, 25 rats were randomly selected and divided into five groups of five rats (1) control, (2) sham, (3) cadmium consumption, (4) endurance training along with cadmium consumption, and (5) endurance training alone. Groups 3 and 4 received 2 mg/kg of cadmium per day peritoneally and groups 4 and 5 ran on the treadmill for three sessions of 60 minutes per week for eight weeks. For statistical analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, One-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc tests were used (P ≤ 0.05). Results: Cadmium significantly reduced the Bcl-2 gene expression (P = 0.003) and increased the Bax gene expression (P = 0.001) in the heart tissue of rats. On the other hand, endurance training significantly increased the Bcl-2 gene expression (P = 0.002) and reduced the Bax gene expression (P = 0.002) in the heart tissue of the rats. Conclusions: Eight weeks of endurance training can improve the Bcl-2 and Bax gene expressions in the heart tissue of rats exposed to cadmium.