Eight Weeks of Swimming Training and CBD Oil Consumption Downregulates the Expression of MAPK and PPARα Genes in the Heart Tissue of Myocardial Infarction Rats

The application of exercise training and herbal supplements is believed to be a typical approach in treating chronic diseases and metabolic disorders. Accordingly, given the healing effects of swimming training and cannabidiol (CBD) oil consumption, the aim of the current study was to reveal if eight weeks of swimming training and CBD oil consumption downregulates the expression of MAPK, PPARα genes in the heart tissue of myocardial infarction rats.

In the present experimental study, 20 myocardial infarction rats were divided into four groups of five animals, including: 1) control, 2 swimming training, 3) CBD, 4) CBD + swimming training, and 5) healthy control. For eight weeks, groups 3 and 4 consumed 50 mg/kg of CBD daily by gavage, and groups 2 and 4 performed swimming training five days a week. Induction of myocardial ischemia was performed by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (50 mg/kg i.p.), in myocardial infarction rats. Bax and Bcl2 cardiomyocytes were measured by PCR-RT. For data analysis, one-way analysis variance test was used to compare inter-group differences at P<0.05.

Swimming training, CBD consumption and swimming training with CBD consumption had a significant effect on reducing MAPK gene expression in cardiac tissue (P≤0.05). Also, swimming training with CBD consumption had a greater effect than swimming training and CBD consumption alone on reducing PPARα gene expression in cardiac tissue (P≤0.05).

It appears that application of swimming training with CBD oil consumption has more positive impacts on improving MAPK and PPARα gene expression levels in the heart tissue of rats with myocardial infarction than using each one alone. Besides, swimming training with CBD oil consumption plays a role in the rehabilitation process and improves key factors involved in cardiovascular health.