Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

The effect of a period of high intensity interval training with gallic acid supplementation on oxidative stress in hippocampal tissue of aged male Wistar rats

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors
1 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz,, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
3 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.48305/jims.2026.45445.2559
Abstract
Background:Aging is accompanied by an increase in oxidativestress, which is influenced by physical activity and nutritional factors.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training combined with gallic acid supplementation on oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde(MDA),catalase(CAT), glutathione peroxidase(GPX), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione(GSH), in the hippocampal tissue of aged mice.
Methods: Forty male 3-month-old Wistar rats (weight range: 180-200 g) were randomly divided into five groups(n=8 per group including: control healthy, control aged, aged+exercise, aged+supplement, and aged+exercise+supplement. Aging was induced by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose at a dose of 500 mg/kg for a duration of 8 weeks.The supplement groups received galli acid by gavage at a dose of 100 mg/kg for a duration of 8 weeks. The high-intensity interval training protocol was conducted over a period of 8 weeks at an intensity of 80 to 90% VO2max.Oxidative stress markers in hippocampal tissue were measured .
Findings:Aging caused a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes GSH, CAT, GPX, and SOD, and asignificant increase in MDAlevels (P < 0.0001). Exercise, supplementation, and the combined exercise+supplementation intervention significantly reduced MDA levelscompared tothe agedcontrolgroup (P < 0.05). Moreover,thecombined exercise + supplementation interventionsignificantly increasedantioxidant markers (GSH, CAT, GPX, SOD)compared to the aged group(P < 0.0001).
Conclusion:Highintensity interval training combined with gallicacid supplementation le to an improvement in antioxidantdefense and a reduction in lipidperoxidation inthe hippocampal tissue of aged rats.Thes findings indicate the potential interactive effect of these interventions in reducing aging-associated oxidative stress; however, generalizing the results tohumanpopulationrequires furtherstudies.

Highlights

Fatemeh Fakhri Pay Borji: Google Scholar

Saied Shakerian: Google Scholar

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Subjects



Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 May 2026

  • Receive Date 15 July 2025
  • Accept Date 03 May 2026