Cardioprotective Effect of High-Intensity Aerobic Interval Training against Adriamycin-Induced Cardiac Toxicity in Rats

Background: Adriamycin (ADR) is a useful drug for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. However, its clinical uses are limited due to dose-dependent cardiac toxicity. Contrary to moderate endurance training, there is little research about the protective role of high-intensity aerobic interval training (HIIT) against the ADR-induced cardiac toxicity and its mechanisms. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of HIIT against ADR-induced cardiac toxicity in the left ventricle of rats by assessment of the serum biomarkers of cardiac injury (LDH and CK-MB). Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 6/group): (1) Control; (2) ADR (20 mg/kg.bw); 3) HIIT (7 sets of 4 minutes intervals at 80% - 90% VO2max interspersed with 3 minutes periods of 65% - 75% VO2max, for 8 weeks), and (4) HIIT + ADR. The ELISA method was used for measuring the serum levels of biomarkers. Statistical differences were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons (α < 0.05). Results: Based on the results, ADR-induction resulted in a significant increase in the LDH and CK-MB levels compared to the ADR group (P < 0.05). Also, the HIIT per se insignificantly increased the levels of LDH and CK-MB compared to the control group. However, the HIIT before ADR-induction resulted in a significant decrease in the LDH and CK-MB levels compared to the ADR group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, the HIIT can be a proper non-prescriptive strategy for preventing ADR-induced cardiotoxicity via reducing the serum biomarkers of cardiac injury.