Effect of 8-week resistance training on the expression of apelin and uncoupling protein-1 genes in visceral adipose tissue of obese male Wistar rats

Background and Aim: Obesity and overweight are recognized as major risk factors for many diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of resistance training on the expression of apelin and uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) genes in the visceral adipose tissue of obese male Wistar rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 20 obese male Wistar rats (8 months old, mean weight 350 ± 50.24 g, and height 23 ± 0.9 cm) were randomly divided into two groups: resistance training and control. The training group performed resistance exercises for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week, each session for about 50-60 minutes, with progressive intensity. The resistance training protocol consisted of climbing a one-meter ladder with 36 steps and an 85-degree slope. Each training session consisted of three sets of five repetitions, with a one-minute rest between each repetition and a two-minute rest between each set. During this period, the control group only stood on the ladder without performing any activity. The expression of apelin and UCP1 genes in visceral adipose tissue was measured using real-time PCR. Results: The results showed that eight weeks of resistance training significantly decreased the expression of the apelin gene and significantly increased the expression of the UCP1 gene in the visceral adipose tissue of obese rats (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Resistance training, by reducing the expression of the apelin gene and increasing the expression of the UCP1 gene, likely induces cellular changes that contribute to reducing fat mass and increasing thermogenesis in visceral adipose tissue.