Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd Branch, Bojnourd, Iran
2
2. Associate Professor, Sports Physiology Department, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
10.22080/jaep.2025.29116.2223
Abstract
Abstract:
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of three types of exercise training—resistance, high-intensity interval (HIIT), and endurance—on the expression of myostatin, follistatin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) genes in the gastrocnemius muscle of aged male rats.
Methods: Forty 18-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=10 per group): resistance training, high-intensity interval training, endurance training, and control. The training protocols were conducted five sessions per week for eight weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last session, gastrocnemius muscle tissues were collected for gene expression analysis of myostatin, follistatin, and IGF-1 using real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using Shapiro–Wilk and Levene’s tests for normality and homogeneity of variances, followed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test (P≤0.05).
Results: All three exercise groups showed a significant decrease in myostatin expression and significant increases in follistatin and IGF-1 expressions compared to the control group (P=0.001). Endurance training induced a significantly greater increase in follistatin expression compared to resistance training (P=0.013). In contrast, resistance and HIIT groups showed significantly higher IGF-1 expression than the endurance group (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Resistance, high-intensity interval, and endurance training can potentially counteract sarcopenia in aging by downregulating myostatin and upregulating follistatin and IGF-1 gene expression. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating structured exercise programs into geriatric health strategies to prevent age-related muscle loss.
Keywords: Sarcopenia, Myostatin, Follistatin, IGF-1, Resistance Training, High-Intensity Interval Training, Endurance Training
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