The effect of endurance training on expression of oxidative stress markers in hippocampus of Wistar rats after brain ischemic stroke

Introduction:Oxidative stress (OS) is one of the main factors of neuronal damage during cerebral ischemia.OS leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggers several destructive mechanisms, including mitochondrial dysfunction, elevated calcium levels, reperfusion injury, and inflammation.This study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of endurance training on the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the hippocampus of rats following ischemic stroke.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 21 adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control, stroke, and stroke + training.Brain ischemic stroke was induced by occluding both common carotid arteries (CCA) for 45 minutes.The training group underwent treadmill running at speeds ranging from 18 to 30 meters per minute, with sessions lasting 20 to 50 minutes, five days per week for eight weeks.Forty-eight hours after the final training session, the rats were sacrificed, and the gene expression of SOD and protein expression of MDA in the hippocampus were analyzed.Results: Ischemic stroke resulted in a significant increase in MDA protein expression and a decrease in SOD gene expression in the hippocampus of rats compared to the control group.However, end urance training significantly reduced MDA protein expression and enhanced SOD gene expression in the hippocampus of rats following ischemic stroke.Conclusion: Endurance training increased SOD gene expression and decreased MDA protein expression, leading to reduced OS and enhanced antioxidant defense in rats following brain ischemic stroke.These findings highlight the potential of physical exercise as a therapeutic strategy for reducing oxidative damage after ischemic events.