Effects of eight weeks aerobic training on kynurenine and gene and protein expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the heart of male rats

Understanding the molecular cellular mechanisms of the heart is essential for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on the kynurenine and gene and protein expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in the heart tissue of healthy male Wistar rats.

The present study is an experimental study design that twelve male Wistar rats were prepared and after adaptation to the environment were divided into 2 groups: control and training. Then, rats in the exercise group performed running on the treadmill for eight weeks, 5 sessions per week, speed between 10 and 26 meters per minute increasingly. After tissue resection and RNA extraction and cDNA preparation, the Real-Time PCR method was used to measure the gene expression of Ahr, and the ELIZA method was used to measure the expression of AHR protein and kynurenine.

The results showed that aerobic exercise led to a significant decrease in the protein expression of AHR (P=0.001) and metabolite of kynurenine (P=0.003), but no significant changes were observed in the level of Ahr gene expression.

Considering the positive effect of aerobic exercise on heart function and the reduction of AHR and kynurenine by this type of exercise, it seems that reducing the activity level of this cell signaling pathway is suitable for improving heart function under normal conditions.