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The effect of aerobic exercise and supplementation of cannabidiol on mTOR gene expression and prostate oxidative factors in male rats fed a high-fat diet
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Marzieh Hafezi   , Mandana Gholami1 , Heshmatollah Parsian , Hossein Natanzi |
| 1- , gholami_man@yahoo.com |
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Abstract: (123 Views) |
Background and Objective: Obesity is a significant risk factor for prostate cancer, potentially through mechanisms involving oxidative stress and the mTOR signaling pathway. While aerobic exercise and plant-derived supplements are known countermeasures, the combined effect of cannabidiol (CBD) and exercise on these pathways remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of six weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and CBD supplementation on mTOR gene expression in the prostate and serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in male rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD).
Methods: In this experimental study, male Wistar rats (weight range: 240±20 g) were randomly assigned into five groups (n=8 per group): 1) Healthy Control (standard diet), 2) HFD Control, 3) HFD + Exercise (Exe), 4) HFD + CBD Supplementation (Sup), and 5) HFD + Exercise + CBD (Exe+Sup). CBD was administered via gavage at a dose of 100 mg/kg, five days per week for six weeks. The exercise protocol consisted of running on a treadmill for 60 minutes per day, five days a week for six weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last intervention, prostate tissue and blood samples were collected. mTOR gene expression was measured by RT-PCR, and serum SOD and GPX activities were assessed using ELISA methods.
Results: Prostate mTOR gene expression showed a significant decrease only in the Sup and Exe+Sup groups compared to the HFD Control group (p=0.023 and p=0.0198, respectively). Serum SOD and GPX activities were significantly lower in the HFD Control group compared to the Healthy Control (p<0.0001 for both). All three intervention groups—Exe, Sup, and Exe+Sup—exhibited a significant increase in the activity of both antioxidant enzymes compared to the HFD Control group (p<0.05 for all comparisons).
Conclusion: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with CBD supplementation appears to be an effective strategy for reducing prostate mTOR gene expression, a key regulator of cell proliferation, and enhancing the systemic antioxidant defense system in obesity conditions. These findings suggest a potential protective role of this combined intervention against obesity-related prostatic alterations.
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| Keywords: Aerobic Exercise, Cannabidiol, Prostate, High-Fat Diet, mTOR, Antioxidant Enzymes, Obesity. |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Sport Physiology
Received: 2025/09/8 | Accepted: 2025/11/26 | Published: 2025/11/29
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