Background and aims: Apelin is a protein which is expressed in myocardia cardiac tissue of mammals, as well as coronary artery, aorta and saphenous vein. Apelin has various cardiovascular functions and causes hypertension reduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of endurance training on the cardiac apelin gene expression in left ventricular in Wistar male rats.

Methods: In the current experimental study, 12 male Wistar rats were divided into control group and training groups. Training group was received exercise on a motor-driven treadmill at
28 m/min (0% grade) for 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks. 24 hours after the last exercise session, the rats were anesthetized. After cutting chest, a part of heart tissue was separated. The RNA from each sample was converted into cDNA. Calculated relative expression of the interested gene was obtained. By dividing threshold of the gene to the cycle threshold of the house keeping gene, relative expression of the gene was calculated by 2^-∆∆Ct equation. All data was analyzed statistically by independent t-test.

Results: Data showed significant increase in the expression of Apelin in exercised group compared to control group after 8-week training (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Endurance exercise has had a positive increase in Apelin expression and might be effective to prevent cardiovascular diseases.