The Effect of Aerobic Exercise and Vitamin D Supplementation on Hepatic Fas and c-FLIP Levels in Rats Exposed to Oxygenated Water

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of regular aerobic exercise and vitamin D supplementation on hepatic apoptosis in rats exposed to oxygenated water (H2O2).

For this purpose, 60 adult male Wistar rats weighed 220±20 g were randomly divided into ten groups (n=6 in each group) including: control group (C), H2O2 (H), double H2O2 (2H), H2O2 + Vitamin D3 Supplement (HD), double H2O2 + Vitamin D3 Supplement (2HD), H2O2+ Exercise (HE), double H2O2+ Exercise (2HE), H2O2 + Vitamin D3 Supplement + Exercise (HDE), double H2O2 + Vitamin D3 + Exercise (2HDE) and Dimethyl Sulfoxide + Saline (DMSO). Then, the animals were exposed to oxidative stress (intraperitoneal injection of H2O2 3 times a week), vitamin D3 (intraperitoneal injection daily) and daily treadmill exercise for 8 weeks (duration of training sessions 30 to 60 min, at speeds of 8 to 20 m/min). The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the last training session and liver tissue was extracted and Fas and c-FLIP protein concentration was measured by ELISA method. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the between groups differences.

The results showed that Fas protein levels were higher in the H, 2H, HD and 2HD groups compared to the control group (P<0.05) and of c-FLIP protein level was lower in the H and 2H groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). The 2HE and 2HDE groups also showed less Fas protein level compared to the 2H group (P<0.05). In addition, the HE group compared to the H group and 2HE and 2HDE groups compared to the 2H group showed higher levels of c-FLIP protein concentration (P<0.05).

Overall, the results of the present study showed that exposure of rats to H2O2 initiates apoptotic cascade in liver tissue. However, regular treadmill exercise was able to attenuate this effect to a large extent, but vitamin D3 supplementation did not.