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The apoptotic response to strenuous exercise of the gastrocnemius and solues muscle fibers in rats

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Abstract

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of strenuous exercise on apoptosis of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle fibers and clarify the role of oxidative metabolism in the strenuous exercise-induced apoptosis. The experiment was designed with 49 (n = 49) male, 24-week-old, L. Wistar albino rats. Strenuous exercise model was applied to 42 (n = 42) rats and seven (n = 7) rats served as rested controls. All rats were randomly assigned to one of the following groups (n = 7): rested control (C), immediately after exercise (0 h) and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after exercise. Apoptotic nuclei were shown by single stranded DNA (ssDNA) determination. Oxidative damage in mitochondrial fractions of the muscle tissues was evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratios. Caspase-9, -8 and -3 activities and the level of cytochrome c (Cyt c) were measured in the cytosolic fractions of muscle tissues to follow mitochondrial-dependent (intrinsic) or ligand-mediated death receptor (extrinsic) pathways of apoptosis. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were also determined. Based on our results, apoptosis is significantly triggered in muscle fibers by strenuous exercise (P < 0.05). Apoptosis in the soleus muscle tissues mostly depends on the intrinsic pathway and may be triggered by increased oxidative stress. In contrast, extrinsic pathway of apoptosis was predominant in the gastrocnemius muscle and increases of TNF-α and IL-6 may play a significant role.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Dokuz Eylul University Research Foundation Grant no: 036.01.01.05. The authors thank Dr. Memduh Bulbul for his excellent technical assistance on the HPLC analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Balcova, 35340, Izmir, Turkey

    S. Koçtürk & H. Resmi

  2. Department of Physiology, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

    B. M. Kayatekin & O. Açıkgöz

  3. Department of Public Health, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

    C. Kaynak

  4. Department of Pathology, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

    E. Özer

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  1. S. Koçtürk
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Koçtürk, S., Kayatekin, B.M., Resmi, H. et al. The apoptotic response to strenuous exercise of the gastrocnemius and solues muscle fibers in rats. Eur J Appl Physiol 102, 515–524 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0612-7

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