Continuous Swimming Training Arises a Remarkable Effect on Some Longevity Biomarkers in Rat Skeletal Muscles

SIRT3 is one of the members of the Sirtuin deacetylase protein family which is linked to the longevity of human being and is used as an important therapeutic and diagnostic marker in illness and aging.

The aim of this study was studying the effect of continuous swimming training on some biomarkers of longevity in slowtwitch (SOL) and fast-twitch (EDL) muscles of adult male rats. Methods. 20 healthy male, 5 months old rats were divided into two groups: control (n = 10) and exercise (n = 10) groups. Continuous swimming training was performed 5 days a week for 8 weeks, including 30 minutes of workout without adding weights in the first week to 60 minutes of workout, adding weights by 3% of the body weight in the eighth week. Twenty four hours after the last exercise session, SOL and EDL muscles were removed and the changes in variables (PGC-1α, SIRT3, and GSH: GSSG) were measured by ELISA method.

The results showed that conducting 8 weeks of continuous swimming training significantly increased PGC-1α and SIRT3 levels in slow-twitch (SOL) and fast-twitch (EDL) muscles (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the aging index (GSH: GSSG) of the SOL and EDL groups compared to the control group (p>0.05).

According to the findings of the present study, the implementation of continuous swimming exercises can improve the PGC-1α and SIRT3 proteins, which are biogenesis mitochondrial and life span biomarkers in slow- and fast-twitch muscles.