Effect of Eight Weeks of High Intensity Interval Training and Crocin Consumption on Serum Markers of Cardiac Tissue Toxicity Induced by Doxorubicin Injection in Male Wistar Rats

Introduction & Objective: Doxorubicin (Dox) is a very effective drug in the treatment of a wide range of cancers. However, in healthy tissues, especially cardiac tissue, it leads to cytotoxic effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of 8 weeks of High Intensity Interval training and crocin consumption on serum markers of cardiac toxicity due to doxorubicin injection in rats. Methodology: 32 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: healthy control (COH), doxorubicin (Dox), doxorubicin and exercise (DT) and doxorubicin, crocin and exercise (DCT). High Intensity Interval training program was performed at 8 weeks, five days a week, and every day with 2 two-minute intervals and 80% intensity in the first week and with 8 two-minute intervals and 90% intensity of maximum speed in the final weeks. The supplementation group (DCT) received 10 mg / kg of crocin by gavage for 8 weeks. Dox was injected subcutaneously 7 times each time at a dose of 2 mg/kg. 48 hours after the last training session and after anesthesia of rats, blood samples were taken directly from the left ventricle and after separating serum from plasma, LDH and CK-MB levels were measured. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance with a statistical level of p <0.05. Results: The results showed that Dox induction led to a significant increase in LDH and CK-MB levels in rats compared with the control group (p=0.001). In contrast, 8 weeks of high intensity interval training significantly reduced serum levels of LDH (p=0.001) and CK-MB (p=0.017) compared with Dox group. Also, 8 weeks of high intensity interval training with crocin significantly reduced LDH (p=0.001) and CK-MB (p=0.001) levels compared to the Dox group. There was no significant difference between the effect of 8 weeks of high intensity interval training and the combination of training and crocin on LDH (p=0.087) and CK-MB (p =0.877) levels of rats exposed to doxorubicin induction. Conclusion: It seems that high intensity interval training alone and in combination with crocin can significantly reduce the changes induced by doxorubicin induction in serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase and creatinine kinase isoenzymes.