The effect of an eight-weeks high- intensity interval training on oxidative stress indices of heart tissue in male rats exposed to diazinon

Background and Aims: Diazinon is an organophosphate insecticide that causes oxidative stress. However, physical activity improves the antioxidant status of the heart. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of an eight-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the indices of oxidative stress in the heart tissue in male rats exposed to diazinon. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats with a weight of 150 to 200 gm and an average age of eight weeks were randomly divided into three groups )n=8), including 1) control (C), 2) diazinon (D), and 3) HIIT and diazinon (HD). Groups 2 and 3 received diazinon 1.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally for five days a week for eight weeks. Group 3 also underwent HIIT with an intensity of 85% to 110% of VO2max and a speed of 15-25 m/min for eight weeks. After eight weeks, Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) gene expression were measured in the heart tissue. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (version 22) and running the Shapiro-Wilk statistical test, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey’s post hoc tests. Moreover, a P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: The findings showed that diazinon significantly increased MDA (P=0.001) and decreased SOD and CAT (P=0.001) in the heart tissue. On the other hand, HIIT led to a decrease in MDA (P=0.001) and an increase in the antioxidant indices of SOD (P=0.001) and CAT (P=0.01) in the heart tissue of rats exposed to diazinon. Conclusion: It seems that regular HIIT had protective effects against heart tissue damage by diazinon poisoning by reducing oxidative stress indicators and increasing antioxidant activities in the heart tissue.