Alireza Khani - Department of Sport Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
Nasibe Kazemi - Department of Sport Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran

Introduction: Today, due to the prevalence and spread of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and negative impact on life and health, effective methods have been considered for treating the disease. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks for resistance training (RT) with royal jelly (RJ) on anxiety and depression in rats with AD. Methods: In the experimental study, ۵۶ male Sprague-Dawley rats with AD (induced by ۸ mg/kg Trimethyltin chloride) divided into seven groups of eight rats including (۱) Alzheimer’s control (AD), (۲) sham (Sh), (۳) RT, (۴) RT+ ۱۰۰ mg/kg RJ (RT+RJ۱۰۰), (۵) RT+ ۲۰۰ mg/RJ (RT+RJ۲۰۰), (۶) RJ۱۰۰, and (۷) RJ۲۰۰. Eight rats were assigned into the healthy control (HC) group to investigate the effect of AD induction on research variables. The groups of ۳, ۴ and ۵, performed RT with an intensity of ۳۰ to ۱۰۰% of body weight three sessions per week for eight weeks, and the  groups of ۴-۷ received the selected doses of RJ peritoneally daily. Anxiety-like behaviors and depression were measured by the elevated plus-maze test and forced swim test respectively. To analyze the findings, one-way ANOVA was used with Tukey’s post- hoc test, and two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post- hoc test (p≤۰.۰۵). Results: Eight weeks of RT (p≤۰.۰۵) and RJ (p≤۰.۰۵) could significantly reduce anxiety and depression in rats with AD. ۲۰۰ mg/kg RJ had a more favorable effect on reducing anxiety (p≤۰.۰۵) and depression (p≤۰.۰۵) than ۱۰۰ mg/kg RJ. In addition, RT and RJ had an interactive effect on reducing depression in rats with AD (p≤۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Apparently, the RT and RJ consumption have interactive effects on reducing anxiety; Besides, the anti-anxiety and anti-depression effects of RJ can be dependent on dosage.  

Resistance training, Royal jelly, Anxiety, Depression, Alzheimer's