The effect of circuit resistance training with different intensities on the agouti-related protein, insulin and glucose plasma levels in young men

Background: Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is a signaling peptide that affects feeding behavior, energy homeostasis, and the stimulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a 6-week circuit-resistance training course (10 exercises at 20, 40, 60, and 80 of 1RM) at different intensities on the levels of plasma AgRP, plasma insulin, and glucose. Materials and Methods: The participants in this experimental study included 45 dormitory male students, aged 20-24 years, with the mean weight of 70.61±3.76 kg, mean age of 21.55±0.17 years, and mean height of 174.84±1.15 cm. They were randomly divided into five groups, each with nine members (i.e., one control group and four experimental groups at 20, 40, 60, and 80 of 1RM). The experimental groups performed the circuit-resistance training exercises at the specified intensities; in contrast, the control group performed no regular training during the course of the study. The blood samples were collected from the venous vein 48 hours before and after the training session (three hours after normal breakfast). Results: The results showed no significant differences between the groups in terms of the AgRP (P=0.399) and glucose levels (P=0.270); however, the difference related to the insulin levels was observed to be significant (P=0.013). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, a larger reduction in the AgRP levels is associated with high intensities of resistance training (i.e., at 80 of 1RM). Therefore, training intensity could be regarded as an influential factor in reducing the appetite and controlling obesity among young men

Pistacia Atlantica Extract Enhances Exercise-Mediated Improvement of Antioxidant Defense in Vistar Rats

Exercise training causes increased oxidative stress. Pistacia Atlantica Extract (Mastic) is known to have a protective effect against oxidative stress and inflammation. We examined the effects of exercise training with and without Pistacia Atlantica extract administration on antioxidant markers in vistar rats. Twenty-eight Vistar female rats (six to eight weeks old, 150-200 g weight) allocated into training (n = 14) and control (n = 14) groups and further divided into saline + control (n = 7), saline + training (n = 7), mastic +control (n = 7), and mastic + raining (n = 7). The training groups were given exercise on a treadmill at 25 m/min (0% grade) for 60 min/day, 5 days/week for eight weeks. Mastic groups were administered at a dose 100 mg/kg (7.5 μL/g of body weight), orally. Seventy-two hours after the last training session, the rats were sacrificed and their liver tissues were excised for tissue oxidative stress markers which were detected by ELISA method. Mastic, Exercise, and Exercise+ Mastic attenuated MDA compared to control (p<0.01). Exercise + Mastic showed a stronger suppressive effect than Mastic and exercise. Mastic and Exercise significantly the increase in SOD compared with control (p<0.05). Exercise + Mastic showed further additive effects on increasing SOD (p<0.001). These results suggest that Mastic supplementation and exercise alone induced positive adaptations in modulating oxidant and antioxidant levels without causing the reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) in liver of vistar rats, but the combined intervention is more effective than either intervention alone

The effect of 8 weeks of endurance training on hypothalamic Nesfatin-1 gene expression and its concentration in male rats

Background: Hypothalamus is mentioned as the major center of appetite and energy balance. Physical activity and the exersice are able to disturb the energy balance to negative. Nesfatin-1 is a regulating neuropeptide that is produced by hypothalamus and has an important role in establishing energy balance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of endurance training regimen on nesfatin-1 gene expression and its concentration in the male rat hypothalamus. Materials and Methods: Eleven adult wistar male rats (8-10 week old, 130-145g) assigned into control(C, n=5) and training (E, n=6) groups. Training group was given exercise on a motor-driven treadmill (20m/min, 0% grade, 60 min/session, 5days/week for 8 weeks). Rats were sacrificed 72h after the last training session and then the hypothalamus tissue was excised for determination of nesfatin-1 gene expression and its concentration by RT-PCR & ELIZA methods, respectively. Four hours before the experiment the food not tap water was removed from the animal cages. Data was analyzed by using an independent t-student test. Results: The current results indicated that the levels of nesfatin-1 gene expression and its concentration, ATP, and glycogen concentrations were non-significantly lower in trained group when compared with control group. Conclusion: This research showed for the first time, that a low-intensity exercises, decreases nesfatin-1 expression and concentration in the hypothalamus, which accompanied insignificant reduction in energy source. It seems that in the present research, the exercise has had the same fasting and being hungry like effect on nesfatin-1 expression and concentration in the hypothalamus

The effect of running with bee pollen on muscle ABCA1 and APOA-1 mRNA expression in rats: brief report

Background: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of a high- intensity running (12 weeks) with bee pollen on gastrocnemius muscle ABCA1 and apoA1 mRNA expression in male rats. Methods: In the present semi-experimental study, 24 white male Wistar rats aged 8 weeks with an average weight of 90&plusmn;20 were prepared from the Pasteur Institute of Amol, Iran. The rats were kept in a room with dimensions of 6&times;5 meters under controlled conditions of light (12 hours light, 12 hours darkness, light began at 6 am, and the darkness began 6 pm), temperature (22&plusmn;3 &ordm;C) and moisture content (about 45%) from November to the end of February 2013. After a week of familiarity with laboratory space and manipulation by human, the rats were divided with simple random sampling into four groups matched by weight: saline-control, bee pollen-control, saline-training and bee pollen-training. Rats were sacrificed 48 h after the last training session. Data were analyzed statistically using two-way ANOVA and a significance level of 0.05. Results: The results of the present study showed that intense endurance training decreased non-significantly in the gastrocnemius muscle. In addition, the bee pollen caused a significant increase in ABCA1 gene expression in the gastrocnemius muscle of male rats (P< 0.0001). while apoA1 not expressed in the gastrocnemius muscle. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that high-intensity running reduces ABCA1 gene expression is severe. In addition, consumption of bee pollen can increase ABCA1 gene expression in the gastrocnemius muscle. According to the results of the present research, the bee pollen intake is more effective than intense endurance training on ABCA1 gene expression in gastrocnemius muscle of male rats and plays an important role in reverse cholesterol transport