Maryam Azariyan - Department of Sport Physiology, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
Saeed Keshavarz - Department of Sport Physiology, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
Seyed Ali Hosseini - Department of Sport Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran.
Hamid Zahedi - Department of Sport Sciences and Sports Medicine Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.

Introduction: A proper diet and physical activity benefit Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of endurance training (ET) with saffron (Sa) consumption on cytochrome C and calmodulin kinase ۲ in the heart tissue of AD rats. Methods: In this experimental study, ۴۰ rats (AD induced by intraperitoneal ۸mg/kg trimethyl tin) were divided into five groups of eight animals comprising: (۱) AD, (۲) Endurance training (ET), (۳) saffron (Sa), (۴) ET+Sa, and (۵) sham (Saffron solvent) groups. The ET and ET+Sa groups ran on a treadmill at ۱۵ to ۲۰m/min (three sessions a week for eight weeks), each lasting ۱۵ to ۳۰ minutes. In addition, the Sa and ET+Sa groups were given ۲۵mg/kg saffron extract per day. The Shapiro-Wilk test, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey’s post hoc tests were used to analyze the data (P≥۰.۰۵). Results: ET, Sa, and ET+Sa significantly decreased cytochrome C and calmodulin kinase ۲ (P≥۰.۰۵). In addition, ET+Sa significantly reduced calmodulin kinase two more than training (P=۰.۰۴). Conclusion: Based on the results, Training and saffron consumption appear to have the same impacts on reducing cytochrome C and calmodulin kinase ۲. However, simultaneous training and saffron consumption can improve the gene expression levels of calmodulin kinase ۲.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), Cytochrome c, Calmodulin kinase ۲, Saffron consumption, Endurance training