The effect of resistance exercise on the expression of the acute steroidogenic regulatory protein gene in rats fed a high-fat diet
Subject Areas : Sport Physiology
Faezeh Saebi
1
,
Shahram Gholamrezaei Darsara
2
*
,
Mohammad Ali Azarbayjani
3
,
Mohammad Reza Fadaei Chafi
4
1 - Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Ra.C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.
2 - Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Ra.C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.
3 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4 - Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Ra.C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.
Keywords: Resistance training, high-fat diet, StAR,
Abstract :
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of resistance training on the expression of the Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) gene in the testicular tissue of rats consuming a high-fat diet (HFD). Eighteen male Wistar rats were selected from the animal house of Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch. They were randomly divided into three groups: 1- control group fed with a normal diet, 2- control group fed with HFD and 3- resistance training group with HFD. HFD was administered for eight weeks. Resistance training was also performed during the first four weeks of HFD. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, the animals were anestheticated with ketamine and xylazine. Testicular tissue was removed to determine StAR gene expression using Real Time PCR. Results showed that StAR gene expression in the high-fat diet-fed control group was significantly lower than that in the normal diet-fed control group (P=0.001). StAR gene expression in the resistance-exercise-HFD group was significantly higher than in the HFD control group (P=0.008). Based on this, it is concluded that resistance training is a suitable strategy for protecting testicular tissue from damage caused by HFD. It can prevent a decrease in testosterone production and spermatogenesis due to increased STAR gene expression.
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