Effects of resveratrol on apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in exercise-exhausted rats

Objective To explore protective effects of resveratrol (RES) on oxidative stress,cardiomyocyte apoptosis in exercise-exhauted rats.Methods Fifty Sprague-Dawley (SD) specific pathogen-free (SPF) adult male rats were randomly divided into five groups (quiet control,exhaustive-exercise,and three RES treatment groups at the dosages of 50,100,200 mg/kg).Superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA),and calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Ca²⁺-ATPase) in heart tissues of all the rats were measured.Cell apoptosis was detected using terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) method.The expression of B cell lymyhoma/leukemia-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 protein in the heart tissues were measured using Western blot.Results The myocardial tissues of exercise-exhausted rats showed significantly higher hypoxic-ischemic area (112.27±48.27 μm²),cell apoptosis index (10.4±1.3)%,MDA (3.98±0.75 nmol/mgpro),Bax (1.28±0.32),and caspase-3 (1.59±0.12) and lower SOD (30.54±4.29 U/mgpro),Ca²⁺-ATPase (0.32±0.03 mol/mg·h) compared to those of the quiet control rats;the myocardial tissues of the rats treated with RES of 200 mg/kg manifested significantly lower hypoxic-ischemic area (22.12±10.22 μm²),cell apoptosis index (23.4±2.3)%,MDA (1.65±0.11 nmol/mgpro),Bax (0.36±0.11),and caspase-3 (0.62±0.13) and higher SOD (69.57±9.02 U/mgpro),Ca²⁺-ATPase (0.72±0.11 mol/mg·h) compared to those of the exercise-exhausted rats (all P<0.01).Conclusion RES can reduce oxidative stress in exercise-exhausted rats and the effect may be related to the decreased Bax and caspase-3 expression in myocardial tissues and inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis.