Iranian Heart Journal

Iranian Heart Journal

High-Intensity Interval Training and Crocin Effects on Doxorubicin-Induced Heart Apoptosis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Rahmatullah Khanmohammadi 1
Mohamad Ali Azarbayjani 2
Maghsoud Peeri 2
Layasadat Khorsandi 3
1 Department of Exercise Physiology, Behbahan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Behbahan, IR Iran.
2 Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Iran.
3 Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Abstract
Background: Doxorubicin (Dox) has been shown to negatively impact the function and structure of the heart in several studies. This experimental study examined the effects of 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and crocin (Cr) on Dox-induced apoptosis in the heart tissue of male Wistar rats.
 
Methods: Fifty healthy male Wistar rats (8 weeks, 200–220 g) were utilized in this study. The groups under investigation included Dox (2 mg/kg), Dox + HIIT (5 days/week for 8 weeks), Dox + Cr (10 mg/kg), and Dox + Cr + HIIT. HIIT involved 1 hour of running at 40%–60% of maximum speed, 5 days per week. Apoptosis and histological changes were assessed in the heart tissue of the rats.
Results: Dox significantly increased the expression of Bax while decreasing Bcl-2 expression levels in the cardiac tissue of animals (P < 0.01). The combination of HIIT and Cr reduced the heart injury score, TUNEL-positive cells, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in Dox-treated rats compared with HIIT or Cr alone.
 
Conclusions: Cr and HIIT, either individually or combined, demonstrated potential in suppressing Dox-induced cardiotoxicity through the attenuation of apoptosis and histological injury. (Iranian Heart Journal 2025; 26(1): 81-92)
Keywords
Cardiotoxicity
High-intensity interval training
Crocin
Apoptosis
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Iranian Heart Journal
Volume 26, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 81-92