The Effect of Aerobic and Resistance Training on Levels of GDF11 in Cardiac Tissue of Elderly Rats

Aging is associated with increased functional and morphological alteration in cardiac tissue which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Recently Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11) is suggested as anti-aging factor in cardiac tissue, so the present study aimed at investigating the effect of aerobic and resistance training on cardiac tissue levels of GDF11 in elderly rats.

 Twenty four elderly male rats were used and divided into 3 groups: control, resistance training (Climbing the ladder with a resistance of 55 to 85% of a maximum repetition, 3 sessions per week) and aerobic training (swimming with a load equal to 3-6% of body weight, 4 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session). After eight weeks, heart weight and GDF11 levels of cardiac tissue were assessed.

  The results of one-way analysis of variance test showed that resistance and aerobic training increased GDF11 of cardiac tissue by 5.1% and 4.6%, respectively; however, the changes were not statistically significant (p= 0.59). Also, comparing to the control group the heart to body weight ratio was 5.9% and 3% lower in both resistance and aerobic training groups, respectively (p= 0.67).

The trend of changes in GDF11 levels and heart to body weight ratio observed in the present study supports the proposed role for GDF11 in the control of aging related pathological hypertrophy. However, it seems that training, at least with the intensity, duration and type used in the present study, does not have a significant effect on the levels of this protein.