Aerobic Exercise Modulates Lipo-Toxicity Genes Expression in Cardiac Tissue of Obese Rats Induced with High-Fat and Fructose Diet

Fatemeh Khadem; Marina Shariati; Heshmat Kavehzadeh; Atefeh Cheraghian; Ali Salemi

doi:10.4103/abr.abr_201_24

Aerobic Exercise Modulates Lipo-Toxicity Genes Expression in Cardiac Tissue of Obese Rats Induced with High-Fat and Fructose Diet

Adv Biomed Res. 2025 Oct 31:14:116. doi: 10.4103/abr.abr_201_24. eCollection 2025.

Authors

Fatemeh Khadem¹, Marina Shariati¹, Heshmat Kavehzadeh¹, Atefeh Cheraghian¹, Ali Salemi¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Obesity stands as a significant contributor to physical disability and is associated with a range of health issues, particularly cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to explore the impact of aerobic exercise on the expression levels of lipo-toxicity genes within the cardiac tissue of obese male rats that have been subjected to a diet high in fat and fructose.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8 rats): 2 months of standard diet, 2 months of high-fat diet containing fructose (60% fat and 25% fructose diet), and aerobic exercise group (consumed 60% fat food containing 25% fructose; in addition, from the eighth week to the end of the research period, they performed continuous aerobic exercise with an average intensity of 15 m/min for 30 min on a treadmill). At the end of the study, the anthropometrical parameters and markers of obesity and also genes expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1-α), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), and mast cell protease-1 (mCPT1) were measured using the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test were used for statistical analysis.

Results: The expression level of PPARα, PGC1-α, PDK4, and mCPT1 genes in the cardiac tissue of obese rats was significantly lower than that of the healthy control group. Also, the gene expression level of PGC1-α, PDK4, and mCPT1 significantly decreases, whereas the gene expression level of the PPARα increased in the exercise group compared to the obese groups.

Conclusion: It seems that aerobic exercise can modulate the expression of PPARα, PGC1-α, PDK4, and mCPT1 genes and improve fat metabolism in cardiac tissue samples. It is suggested that aerobic exercise can be useful for obese patients with cardiovascular problems.

Keywords: Aerobic exercise; cardiac system; lipo-toxicity genes; obesity.