Journal of Advanced Biomedical Sciences

Background & Objectives: C-kit⁺ cells are the most important cardiac stem cells and have Myogenic and Vasculogenic properties. Exercise training tends to stimulate these cells. This study aims to investigate the effect of intense and moderate interval aerobic training and curcumin consumption on the gene expression of c-Kit stem cells of heart in old rats.

Materials &Methods: 35 Wistar old female rats of about two years were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, saline, curcumin, moderate training + curcumin and intense training + curcumin. 30 mg Curcumin for each kg of their body weight was given by gavage to the rats in experimental groups 3 days a week. The saline group was given the same amount of saline. Both groups underwent interval aerobic training on treadmill 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks, with high and medium intensity. 48 hours after the last training and gavage, c-Kit gene expression for cardiac stem cells was measured.

Results: The results indicated that in each Curcumin group, c-Kit level increased significantly compared to that of the control group (P=0.003). The mean of moderate exercise + curcumin group was significantly higher than the mean of curcumin, saline and control groups (P<0.001). The highest increase in the level of c-Kit gene expression occurred in the intense training + curcumin group which showed a significant difference with other groups (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Regular consumption of curcumin alone or combined with regular aerobic interval exercise training can significantly increase the cardiac stem cells and can be effective in restoring old rats heart. The effect of exercise on the cardiac stem cells, however, appears to be dependent on the intensity of training.