ABSTRACT

          Background and Objective: Adipose tissue secrets various hormones including adiponectin, which is closely related to weight control and energy, balance. This study investigated the effects of resistance training on adiponectin, testosterone and cortisol levels in untrained men.  

           Methods: Forty untrained men (mean age of 23.8±2.66 years, mean weight of 67.43 ± 4.96 kg) were randomly and equally assigned into groups of upper extremity resistance training, lower extremity resistance training, combined resistance training, and control. The subjects performed eight weeks of weight training, three sessions per week (five sets of 60-85% one repetition maximum). Blood sampling was done prior to the start of the program, after the fourth week, and after the eight week. Alpha level was set to 0.05 for all statically analyses.

         Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed that eight weeks of upper extremities training significantly decreased body fat percentage (p=0.002, 7.39%), and significantly increased adiponectin (p=0.000; 90.42%) and testosterone (p=0.002; 24.19%) levels. In the lower extremities training group, body fat percentage (p=0.006, 7.39%) decreased significantly, while adiponectin (p=0.012; 87.82%) and testosterone (p=0.000; 23.54%) levels increased significantly compared to the pretest. Eight weeks of combined training significantly increased BMI (p=0.006, 1.88%), muscle mass (p=0.007, 2.24%), and adiponectin (p=0.000, 91.56%) level. However, cortisol level decreased (p=0.017, 19.17%) after four weeks of training.  

         Conclusion: Upper and lower extremities resistance trainings significantly change testosterone levels. Different types of resistance training significantly increases serum adiponectin level and changes body composition, which are effective in prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

         Keywords: Resistance Training, Adiponectin, Testosterone, Cortisol.

ABSTRACT
           Background and Objectives: The purpose of this research was to determine effects of vitamin D supplementation during a course of endurance training on anthropometrical parameters of Wistar rats exposed to a high-fat diet.
Methods: In this experimental study, 38 Wistar rats aged 5-6 weeks were assigned to five groups: 1. Control with normal diet (n=5), 2. Control with high-fat diet (n=5), 3. High-fat diet and vitamin D supplementation (n=10), 4. High-fat diet and endurance training (n=10), and 5. High-fat diet, endurance training and vitamin D supplementation (n=10). The animals were subjected to a high-fat diet (40%) for 13 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of exercise and vitamin D supplementation.
Results: Weight (P=0.02), BMI (P=0.001), Lee index (P=0.01) and energy efficiency (P=0.001) differed significantly between groups 1 and 2. Feed efficiency (P=0.03) and energy efficiency (P=0.01) of groups 2, 3 and 4 were significantly different from that of the control group.
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that endurance training and vitamin D supplementation could significantly decrease some anthropometric indices.
Keywords: Endurance Training, Vitamin D, High Fat Diet, Anthropometric Indices.

Abstract
           Background and Objectives: Liver is one of the vital organs of the human body. Antioxidants have been shown to play important roles in reducing liver injuries. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of gallic acid supplementation and resistance exercise on liver damage biomarkers in male rats intoxicated by steroid anabolic.
           Materials and Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six equal groups: control, sham, steroid anabolic (5 mg/kg), steroid anabolic (5 mg/kg) + gallic acid supplementation (50 mg/kg), steroid anabolic (5 mg/kg) + resistance exercise, and steroid anabolic (5 mg/kg) + gallic acid supplementation (50 mg/kg) + resistance exercise. Except for control and sham groups, all groups received (injection) steroid anabolic at a dose of 5 mg / kg body weight once a week. The resistance exercise protocol was comprised of three weekly exercise sessions by 5 rep/3 set of climbing ladder for eight weeks. Data were analyzed via ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test at a significance level of P<0.05.
           Results:  The hepatic enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin (total and direct), "In the gallic acid supplementation group (P<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.02, and p<0.05, respectively), resistance training group (p<0.02, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<0.05, respectively), and the gallic acid supplementation group with resistance exercise (P<0.02, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<0.01, respectively)"  were significantly reduced compared to the anabolic steroid group.
           Conclusions: Gallic acid supplementation and resistance exercise significantly reduce liver damage biomarkers. However, the simultaneous use of resistance exercise and gallic acid supplementation has no increasing effects on these biomarkers.
           Keywords: Anabolic Agents, gallic acid, Resistance Training.

Background and Objectives: Prolonged exercise can reduce physiological capacities and cause DNA damage by inducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of cancer by activating DNA repair enzymes and reducing oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of eight weeks of aerobic exercise with and without vitamin D supplementation on DNA damage.
    
   Methods: Forty-eight adult male rats were randomly divided into six groups: control (C), H₂O₂ (H), H₂O₂ and vitamin D (HD), H₂O₂ and exercise (HE), H₂O_2,, vitamin D and exercise (HDE), and dimethyl sulfoxide. Cancer was stimulated through intraperitoneal injection of H₂O₂ (2 mmol/kg). Animals in groups HE and HDE ran on treadmill for eight weeks. Concentration of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using SPSS 22 at significance level of 0.05.
 
   Results: Vitamin D supplementation significantly lowered the level of 8-OHdG expression compared to the control group (P=0.0001). The 8-OHdG expression in the exercise group was slightly lower than control group (P=0.063). Combination of exercise and vitamin D supplementation had no significant effect on expression of 8-OHdG (P=0.281). Both exercise and vitamin D supplementation significantly increased MGMT expression compared to the control group (P=0.0001 and P=0.040). However, combination of exercise and vitamin D supplementation had no significant effect on MGMT expression (P=0.326).
 
  Conclusion: The results showed that aerobic exercise and vitamin D supplementation can have protective effects against DNA damage, possibly by increasing antioxidant capacity and DNA repair.

Background and objectives: Cardiac apoptosis is one of the most important cardiovascular complications of diabetes. We aimed to investigate the changes of Bax, Bcl2 and caspase 3 in cardiac tissue of diabetic rats after six weeks aerobic exercise.
Methods: Thirty two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into healthy control, diabetes control and diabetes + exercise groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin solution (55 mg/kg). Two weeks after the injection, fasting blood glucose levels were measured to confirm induction of diabetes. The exercise program was performed five days a week for six weeks. Variables were evaluated by ELISA and western blot analysis. All statistical analyses were performed in SPSS (version 22) using ANOVA and at significance of 0.05.
Results: The induction of diabetes in the control groups resulted in a significant increase in Bax, Bax/Bcl2 ratio and a significant decrease in Bcl2 levels (P=0.024). The six-week training exercise in diabetic groups significantly decreased Bax and Bax/Bcl2 ratio and significantly increased Bcl2 (P=0.018).
Conclusion: Our finding showed that diabetes could increase apoptosis in cardiac tissue. In addition, the six-week aerobic exercise can be used as a non-pharmacological strategy to reduce diabetes-related apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.