Anti-Apoptotic Effects of Resistance Training and Tribulus Terrestris Consumption in the Heart Tissue of Rats Exposed to Stanozolol

Objective: Nowadays, the use of energetic substances has become a complex problem in sports, such that the role of anabolic-androgenic steroids is undeniable. This study aimed to investigate the antiapoptotic effect of resistance training and Tribulus terrestris in the heart tissue of rats exposed to stanozolol.

Materials and Methods: 35 rats divided into 7 groups including (1) sham , (2) stanozolol-treated, (3) stanozolol+50 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris-treated, (4) stanozolol+100 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris-treated, (5) stanozolol+resistance training-treated, (6) stanozolol+resistance training+50 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris-treated, and (7) stanozolol+resistance training+100 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris-treated. During 8 weeks, groups 2-7 received 5 mg/kg stanozolol per day peritoneally; groups 5-7 performed resistance training for 3 sessions per week; and groups 3, 4, 6 and 7 received daily doses of Tribulus terrestris peritoneally. 

Results: Stanozolol administration significantly increased the BAX, BCL-2, P53, and caspase 3 and BAX/BCL-2 ratio (P < .001). Resistance training, 100 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris administration, 50 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris administration, resistance training+100 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris administration, and resistance training+50 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris administration significantly decreased BAX, BCL-2, P53, and caspase 3 levels and BAX/BCL-2 ratio (P < .001); however, stanozolol+resistance training+100 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris administration caused more decrease than stanozolol+resistance training+50 mg/kg Tribulus terrestris administration in BAX (P < .001).

Conclusion: Resistance training and Tribulus terrestris administration alone appear to have antiapoptotic effects; however, resistance training combined with Tribulus terrestris administration, especially at higher doses, have more desirable effects than resistance training or Tribulus terrestris administration alone on the apoptosis markers. 

Cite this article as: Arjmand A, Abedi B, Hosseini SA. Anti-Apoptotic Effects of Resistance Training and Tribulus Terrestris Consumption in the Heart Tissue of Rats Exposed to Stanozolol. Eurasian J Med 2021; 53(2): 79-84.