The Interactive Effects of Swimming High Intensity Interval Training and Resveratrol Supplementation on E1αSubunit Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Enzyme in the Hippocampus of Aged Rats

Introduction: Pyruvate Dehydrogenase E1 enzyme is a heterotetrameric αketoacid decarboxylase that oxidizes Pyruvate to AcetylCoA. Increasing in the age results in phosphorylation of E1αsubunit Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Enzyme (PDHE1α) in mitochondria. Furthermore, PDC activity in brain is related to PDHE1α expression. Evidence shows that specific structure of hippocampus makes great responses to exercise. Prior studies have reported biological activities of resveratrol (RSV) such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory and neural protection activities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of swimming high intensity interval training (HIIT) and resveratrol supplementation on PDHE1α in hippocampus of aged rats. Methods: 45 male Wistar rats with an age of 20 months were randomly divided into five groups (control (C), Swimming HIIT (SHIIT), Swimming HIIT with resveratrol supplementation (SHIITR), resveratrol supplementation (R) and solvent of resveratrol supplementation (SR). Swimming HIIT and resveratrol supplementation groups performed the exercise and received resveratrol(10 mg/kg/day, gavage) for six weeks. All rats were sacrificed and the brain was extracted immediately and the hippocampus was separated. ShapiroWilk test was used to normalize the research data. Statistical analysis was performed using oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) and repeated measures with Tukey’s post hoc test at a significant level of 0.05. The hypothesis test was performed using SPSS software version 20. Results: Western Blot method showed that Swimming HIIT with resveratrol supplementation and resveratrol alone increased PDHE1α level significantly (P=0.007 and P=0.047,respectively). Furthermore, Swimming HIIT increased PDHE1α level but not significantly (P=0.383). Conclusion: It appears that resveratrol alone and with exercise can influence levels of hippocampus mitochondrial metabolism key proteins such as PDHE1α in aged rats and regulated PDC activity, TCA cycle and hippocampal cell metabolism.