The Compound Effect of Aerobic Exercise and Thyme Supplementation on the PGC-1α Gene Epression in Adult Male Rats

Background: Due to the uncertainty of the impact of thyme supplementation on endurance sport performance, despite its high antioxidant property, this study was conducted on rats to provide a tonic supplement of thyme extract and also to investigate its effect on the PGC-1α gene expression. Methods: In this experimental study 40 adult male Wistar rats as statistical samples were randomly classified into 5 groups of 8 animals which including control, aerobic training, thyme extract, aerobic exercise + thyme extract. The purpose of supplementation thyme was dissolving 400 mg per kg dose of thymus extract in daily water of rats. Initially, the rats began their exercise for 10 minutes a day and at a speed of 10 meters per minute with  10% slope. Speed and duration of exercise gradually increased during the next 2 weeks until the duration and intensity of exercise became 1 hour a day and 27 meters per minute respectively. The real time PCR method was used to investigate PGC-1α gene expression rate. Results: Findings of the study showed a significant difference in PGC-1α gene expression rate of adult rats’ soleus muscle in the post-test in compound group of supplementation thyme and aerobic exercise with control group. (P=05/0،  f=238/4) ,( SD=0/0306-M=1/01).   However, there is no significant difference between PGC-1α gene expression rate in aerobic exercise group and thymus extracts supplementation group and control group (f=0.00001, p= 0.005). (SD=0.0306-M=1.01)  Conclusions: According to the study results and background of study, it seems that thyme extract supplementation along with aerobic exercise increases the PGC-1α gene expression.