The Effect of Endurance Training and Saffron Extract on Plasma Levels of Interleukin 17 and 18 in Alzheimer’s Rats by Trimethyltin Chloride

Objective: The Pathological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and the degeneration of nerve cells cause inflammation in these patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of endurance training and saffron extract on the plasma levels of interleukin 17 and 18 in Alzheimer’s rats by trimethyltin chloride.  Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 180 ± 20 grams. After Alzheimer’s induction (by the intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg trimethyltin chloride), the rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control, training, saffron extract, saffron extract + training. The saffron extract was injected intraperitoneally at the dose of 25 mg/kg, daily, for eight weeks. Also, the endurance training program consisted of incremental running on the treadmill at a speed of 15 to 20 m/min. The program was performed in 15 to 30 minutes sessions, three sessions per week, for eight weeks. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA at the P < 0.05. Results: The results showed that exercise (P=0.10), saffron consumption (P=0.07), and the interaction of exercise and saffron consumption (P=0.06) did not significantly affect interleukin 17, in rats. Also, exercise (P=0.68), saffron consumption (P=0.84), and the interaction of exercise and saffron consumption (P=0.57) had no significant effect on interleukin 18, in rats. Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that exercise training and saffron extract do not affect the interleukin 17 and interleukin 18 in Alzheimer’s rats.