The Effect of Regular Aerobic Exercise Training and Pumpkin Seed Extract on the Heart and Aorta Apoptosis Biomarkers in Arsenic-Intoxicated Rats

Abstract

Background: Arsenic as a widely inadvertently-used metal can trigger oxidative stress, leading to heart diseases. Objectives: In this regard, this study aimed to evaluate the simultaneous effect of regular aerobic exercise and pumpkin seed extract on the heart and aorta endothelial cells' apoptosis in rats poisoned with arsenic. Methods: To this end, 56 male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups: (1) TC (toxic control), (2) AE (aerobic exercise training), (3) TAP1 (toxic aerobic exercise training + 300 mg/kg/day pumpkin seed extract consumption), (4) TAP2 (toxic aerobic exercise training + 600 mg/kg/day pumpkin seed extract consumption), (5) TP1 (300 mg/kg/day toxic pumpkin seed extract consumption), (6) TP2 (600 mg/kg/day toxic pumpkin seed extract consumption), and (7) HC (healthy control). All the groups (with the exception of HC) were exposed to 25 ppm arsenic per day for 16 weeks. Then aerobic exercise training program or pumpkin seed extract, or both, were administered to rats depending on the groups for eight weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last intervention session, the rats were killed, and their tissues were collected. Statistical analyses were performed, and P < 0.05 was set as the significance level. Results: The results showed that pumpkin seed extract lowered BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 levels and increased B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) significantly only at a dose of 600 mg/kg; however, no change was observed when only aerobic exercise training was performed. The groups who received both interventions had more significant changes in the heart and aorta tissues for all factors. Conclusions: It was concluded that the concurrent administration of aerobic exercise training and pumpkin seed extract could decrease apoptosis more significantly in both tissues in arsenic-intoxicated rats, compared to each individual intervention