Preconditioning Effect of High‐Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Berberine Supplementation on the Gene Expression of Angiogenesis Regulators and Caspase‐3 Protein in the Rats with Myocardial Ischemia‐Reperfusion (IR) Injury

Abstract

Objective . It has been shown that angiogenesis is a desirable treatment for patients with ischemic heart disease. We set out to investigate the impact of high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) and berberine supplementation on the gene expression of angiogenesis‐related factors and caspase‐3 protein in rats suffering from myocardial ischemic‐reperfusion injury. Methods . Fifty rats were divided into the following groups: (1) trained, (2) berberine supplemented, (3) combined, and (4) IR. Each cohort underwent five sessions of HIIT per week for a duration of 8 weeks followed by induction of ischemia. Seven days after completion of reperfusion, changes in the gene expression of angiogenesis‐related factors and caspase‐3 protein were evaluated in the heart tissue. Results . We observed a significant difference between four groups in the transcript levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF2), and thrombospondin‐1(TSP‐1) ( p ≤ 0.05). However, the difference in endostatin (ENDO) levels was not significant among the groups despite a discernible reduction ( p ≥ 0.05). Moreover, caspase‐3 protein and infarct size were significantly reduced in the intervention groups ( p ≤ 0.05), and cardiac function increased in response to these interventions. Conclusion . The treatments exert their effect, likely, by reducing caspase‐3 protein and increasing the expression of angiogenesis‐promoting factors, concomitant with a reduction in inhibitors of the process.