Effect of 12 Weeks of Intense Endurance Training and Bee Pollen Consumption on ABCA1 Gene Expression in Small Intestine, Liver and Gastrocnemius Muscle of Male Rats

ABSTRACT           Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of intense endurance training and bee pollen consumption on ABCA1 gene expression in small intestine, liver and gastrocnemius muscle tissues of male rats.            Methods: In this study, 24 male Wistar rats (aged 6-8 weeks and weighing 90-110 g) were randomly divided into four groups of saline-control (n=6), saline-training (n=6), bee pollen-control (n=6) and bee pollen-training (n=6). The training groups exercised on a treadmill for 12 weeks (30 m/min, 90 min/day, five days/week). The bee pollen groups were given bee pollen orally (500 mg/Kg) for 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA at significance level of 0.05.           Results: ABCA1 gene expression was highest in the liver, gastrocnemius muscle and small intestine, respectively. The findings also revealed that the intense endurance training caused a non-significant increase in ABCA1 gene expression in the small intestine and liver. However, the training caused a non-significant decrease in ABCA1 gene expression in the gastrocnemius muscle. In addition, consumption of bee pollen significantly increased ABCA1 gene expression in the small intestine and gastrocnemius muscle of male rats. However, the effect of bee pollen on the gene’s expression in the liver was not statistically significant.            Conclusion: Based on our findings, it can be concluded that consumption of bee pollen has more beneficial effects on the ABCA1 gene expression and reverse cholesterol transport compared with the intense endurance training.            Keywords: ABCA1 protein, Pollen, exercise.