Abstract

Background & Aim: Exercise training increases the levels of stem cells and recalling cells of these cells in order to rebuild and proliferate the cells of the heart. However, the effect of a short period of intense exercise has not been determined. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of two weeks of severe routine training on SDF-1α, its receptor (CXCR4) and C-Kit in the rat heart tissue.

Methods: This experimental study was performed on 10 male Wistar 8 weeks old (234.5 ± 8.7 g) in both control and exercise groups. The experimental group performed two weeks of severe periodic training in four parts. The first part consisted of three days of exercise, two sessions a day, and each session included 4 severe 2 minute movements and 3 slow 2-minute alternations between two severe periods. The second part also: The two days of the training were similar to the first part, with the difference that the severity of the frequencies increased sharply. The third part was a three-day training with a more frequent and intense second part. Finally, the fourth part was more frequent than the third one with the same severity of the second part. 48 hours after the last training session, the mice bleached, and after surgery, the heart tissue was removed and quickly faded. The concentrations of SDF-1α, cxcr4 and C-Kit proteins were measured by western blot method. Data were analyzed by independent t-test.

Results: Independent t-test analysis showed that the SDF-1α protein concentration of the training group was significantly higher than the control group (p <0.038), as well as the concentration of CXCR4 protein in the training group compared to the control group (p <0.002) There was a significant increase in C-Kit protein content in the heart tissue of the training group compared to the control group (p <0.023) , (p≥0.05).

Conclusion: It seems that even a short period of intense periodic exercises can lead to the formation of new myocytes by stimulating the recalling factors of stem cells.