Effect of 8-Week- - Concurrent Training and Capsaicin Supplementation on the Expression of IGF-1 and FOXO3 Genes in the Quadriceps Muscle of Aged Male Wistar Rats

  • Fatemeh Madani Departmentof Sport Physiology، Faculty of Physical Education، Islamic Azad University، Islamshahr Branch، Islamshahr، Iran.
  • Yaser Kazemzadeh Departmentof Sport Physiology، Faculty of Physical Education، Islamic Azad University، Islamshahr Branch، Islamshahr، Iran.
  • Sanaz Mirzayan Shanjani Departmentof Sport Physiology، Faculty of Physical Education، Islamic Azad University، Islamshahr Branch، Islamshahr، Iran.
  • Hossein Shirvani Department Exercise Physiology Research Center، Life Style Institute، Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences،Tehran، Iran
Keywords: Concurrent Training, Capsaicin, Ageing, Rats, IGF-1, FOXO3.

Abstract

Introduction: Aging is a gradual and progressive process accompanied by fundamental changes in the structure of skeletal muscles. These alternations include decreased muscle mass and strength, leading to serious challenges in the lives of the elderly. This study investigated the effects of concurrent training and capsaicin administration on the expression of IGF-1 and FOXO3 genes in aging male aged Wistar rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats (22-month-old) were randomly assigned to four groups: control, capsaicin administration, concurrent training, and capsaicin administration combined with concurrent training. Concurrent trainings were performed following the standard protocol for a duration of 8 weeks. Moreover, the participants received a capsaicin supplement of 5 mg per kg of body weight via gavage. The research indices were measured using Real-time PCR, and the data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance at a significance level of alpha less than 0.5 percent.

Results: Based on the statistical results, compared to the control group, both combined exercise (P=0.011) and capsaicin consumption (P=0.001) independently led to a significant decrease in FOXO3 expression. Furthermore, capsaicin consumption on its own led to a notable increase in IGF-1 expression (P=0.001). Conversely, there was no significant difference observed in the expression levels of both FOXO3 and IGF-1 among the other groups (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the findings, capsaicin consumption during combined training is associated with improvements in signaling pathways that promote hypertrophy in the quadriceps muscles of aged rats. Understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for these changes requires further cellular-molecular studies.

Published
2025-06-01
Section
Articles