Nazila Payandeh - Department of Sport Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Maghsoud Peeri - Department of Sport Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Ali Azarbayjani - Department of Sport Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Ali Hosseini - Department of Sport Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran

Background: A healthy lifestyle, nutrition, and exercise can improve bone mass via several mechanisms.Objectives: This study assessed the effects of four weeks of palm pollen consumption along with resistance training on protein andgene expression levels of Runt-related transcription factor ۲ (Runx۲) in bone tissue of rats.Methods: Thirty-six rats were selected and assigned into six groups, including (۱) training + testosterone, (۲) training + palm pollen,(۳) testosterone, (۴) palm pollen, (۵) training and (۶) sham. Then, ۱۰۰ mg/kg of palm pollen was prescribed five days per week.Resistance training was performed five sessions per week, and ۲ mg/kg of testosterone propionate was prescribed peritoneally. Geneexpression and protein levels of Runx۲ were measured via the real-time PCR andWestern blot methods.Results: Training had a significant effect on the increase in Runx۲ protein levels (P ۰.۰۵). Training + testosterone, training + palmpollen, testosterone, and palm pollen had significant effects on gene expression and protein levels of Runx۲ (P ۰.۰۵). Training +testosterone and training + palm pollen had more favorable effects on the increase of gene expression and protein levels of Runx۲than had testosterone, palm pollen, and training (P ۰.۰۵).Conclusions: Although training, palm pollen, and testosterone alone could increase the Runx۲ protein levels in the bone tissueof rats, training with palm pollen and training with testosterone appeared to have more favorable effects on the increase of geneexpression and protein levels of Runx۲ than either alone.

Training, Palm Pollen, Testosterone, Runx۲, Bone