Introduction and Purpose: The cellular mechanisms underlying myocardial infarction-induced apoptosis in the heart muscle are complex and require further investigation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of resistance training in combination with BCAA nanoliposome supplementation on the expression of bax and bcl-2 genes in mitochondrial cardiomyocytes of myocardial infarction model rats.
Methods: 32 male Wistar rats in myocardial infarction model were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, supplementation (BCAA nanoliposome), combination (resistance training + BCAA nanoliposome supplementation), and exercise (resistance training). Resistance training consisted of eight weeks of moderate-intensity ladder training (70% of MVCC) five days a week. In the supplementation and combination groups, BCAA nanoliposome supplementation was administered 5 days a week for 8 weeks at a dose of 600 mg/kg body weight by gavage. Bax and bcl-2 were obtained using Real-time PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's test.
Findings: The results of the study indicated a significant decrease in bax and a significant increase in bcl-2 gene expression in cardiomyocytes of myocardial infarction model rats in the combined and exercise group compared to the supplement and control groups (p=0.001). Also, no significant difference was observed between the control and supplement groups (p=0.201).
Conclusion: It seems that resistance training and BCAA supplementation can reduce apoptosis to some extent. These results indicate the positive effect of resistance activity in maintaining cell viability and modulating apoptosis in cardiac tissue.