The Effects of Eight Weeks of High Intensity Interval Training on Expression of Pparγ and Liver TG in Rats with Fatty Liver Disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of eight weeks of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on gene expression of PPARγ and liver TG in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In this experimental study, thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups. The first group (20 rats), consumed 16 weeks a high-fat diet with the aim of create a fatty liver, and the second group (control), (10 rats), consumed standard diet during this period of time. After confirmation of fatty liver by measuring the serum level of ALT enzyme in the first group, they were randomly divided into two groups of NAFLD and NAFLD+HIIT (each group of 10 rats), the NAFLD+HIIT group performed progressive exercise training for eight weeks, according to percentage of maximum speed (75-90 percent) and the NAFLD and control groups only took their diet and did not participate in any exercise. After eight weeks of exercise training, expression of PPARγ and TG level were measured. Data analysis showed a significant increase in PPARγ expression in the NAFLD+HIIT group compared to the NAFLD group (P=0.001). Liver triglyceride in NAFLD+HIIT group had a significant decrease (P=0.001). On the other hand, the mean weight of rats in the NAFLD + HIIT group did not change significantly (P= 0.054), but the mean weight of control and NAFLD groups increased significantly during this period (P=0.001). It seems that high intensity interval training by increasing in expression of PPARγ and its effect on the regulation of the expression of effective genes in fat metabolism, independent of weight loss, can reduce liver TG and improves fatty liver disease.