Effect of Moderate Aerobic Exercise Combined with Cannabinoid Supplementation on P53 Gene Expression in Rats with High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Subject Areas : Medicinal Plants and Sports
Masoumeh Mohamadkhani
1
,
Mandana Gholami
2
*
,
Heshmatolah Parsian
3
,
Hossein Abednatanzi
4
1 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran.
4 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
Abstract :
Introduction: In the present study, changes in P53 gene expression were investigated in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) after 6 weeks of moderate aerobic exercise and cannabinoid supplementation.
Method: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n=8 per group): healthy control, high-fat diet (HFD), HFD + aerobic exercise (Tr), HFD + cannabinoid supplement (Sup), and HFD + Tr + Sup. Rats in the HFD group received a special high-fat diet for 2 months before the main protocol. Rats in the exercise groups ran on a rodent treadmill for 6 weeks, 5 days per week. Cannabinoids supplements were administered via gavage at a dose of 100 ng/kg after each exercise session to rats in the supplement group. To confirm Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induction based on HFD, the rats’ livers were examined using a Zonecare-Q9 ultrasound device before the start of the exercise and supplementation protocol. Finally, after the exercise and supplementation protocol, the rats were sacrificed, and the P53 variable was measured by Real-Time PCR. For data analysis, an independent t-test, Bonferroni test, and two-way ANOVA were used.
Results: Ultrasound results showed that the high-fat diet in the HFD group induced grade 2 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compare to the healthy control group. In the HFD group, the P53 gene expression in liver tissue was significantly increased in comparison to the healthy control group (p<0.05). Compared to the HFD group, the Sup group showed a significant decrease in P53 (p<0.05). The HFD+Tr and HFD+Tr+Sup groups did not demonstrate a significant effect on P53 in comparison to the HFD group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The high-fat diet can lead to grade 2 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while cannabinoid supplements, by reducing cellular stress and modulating P53 gene expression, may improve cellular signaling processes and provide a basis for developing new therapeutic strategies for liver cancer patients