The effect of aerobic exercise training on the expression of genes involved in cardiac apoptosis (Caspase-3/-7) in rats with glioblastoma multiforme

Performing aerobic exercise in different disease conditions can regulate cardiac homeostasis and reduce cardiac apoptosis caused by the disease. In brain cancer, other tissues, including cardiac tissue, can also be affected. Since exercise training causes organ crosstalk, in this study, the effects of aerobic exercise training (AET) on cardiac apoptosis in Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) rats are evaluated. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n=8 in each) of healthy control, GBM, and GBM+AET. Glioblastoma was injected into the frontal cortex of rats. The training group (AET) performed aerobic exercises on the treadmill for 4 weeks, 3 days a week at a speed of 18 meters per minute, for 25-40 minutes. In the end, the rats were sacrificed and caspase-3 and caspase-7 were analyzed from the myocardium by Real-time PCR method. Considering H&E image, the GBM group showed necrosis and apoptosis in cardiac tissue compared to the healthy group. Compared to the healthy control group, GBM significantly increased caspase-3 and caspase-7 mRNA in the myocardium (p<0.05). However, in contrast to the GBM group, the GBM+AET showed a significant decrease in caspase-3 and caspase-7 mRNA at the myocardium (p<0.05). Since tumor formation in the body can affect other distant tissues in an endocrine manner, it is suggested to prioritize aerobic exercise to control the damage caused by GBM on heart tissue. However, more studies are needed, especially on human samples.