Effect of Endurance Training and MitoQ on Expression of PGC-1α, ERR-α, MCAD, and CPT-1α Genes in Skeletal Muscle of Male Wistar Rats

 Background and purpose: Estrogen-related receptor α (ERR-α) and transcriptional activator (PGC-1α) are important factors involved in regulating cellular energy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of PGC1α, ERRα genes after six weeks of endurance training and MitoQ supplementation in skeletal muscle of male Wistar rats and to determine their role in lipid metabolism indices. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n= 8); control group, endurance training, MitoQ supplement, and endurance training + MitoQ supplement. Training groups performed endurance training for six weeks (five sessions/ week). One-way analysis of variance was applied to compare data between the study groups. Results: Expression levels of ERR-α (P= 0.002), PGC-1α (P= 0.000), MCAD (P= 0.041), and CPT-1b (P= 0.521) genes were significantly higher in endurance training groups compared with the control group. ERR-α and CPT-1b gene expression levels significantly increased in the supplement group compared with the control group (P= 0.036 and P= 0.000, respectively). Findings showed that PGC-1α expression decreased in supplementation groups compared with the endurance training groups (P= 0.000). Conclusion: Endurance training increases the expression of ERR-α and PGC-1α genes, which is associated with an increase in expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism. Despite increase in the expression of ERR-α and CPT-1b follwing MitoQ supplement, the effects of MitoQ supplement was not additive to the effect of endurance exercise, which emphasizes that the effect of exercise on lipid metabolism is mediated through free radicals and oxidative stress.