Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University Journal of Applied Health Studies in Sport Physiology 2676-6507 Articles in Press 2025 10 06 Combined Effects of Endurance Training and Spirulina on proBDNF/p75NTR and NF-κB Apoptotic Signaling in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats Combined Effects of Endurance Training and Spirulina on proBDNF/p75NTR and NF-κB Apoptotic Signaling in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats 15024 10.22049/jahssp.2025.30691.1762 FA Zeinab Rezaee Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. Sayyed Mohammad Marandi Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. Journal Article 2025 06 07 Abstract <br />Background& purpose: Apoptosis is a progressive disorder in diabetes that gradually affects nerves and tissues. Lifestyle modification is one of the approaches to combat diabetes-related complications, which is why exercise and proper nutrition have always been emphasized by specialists. This study investigates the effect of 6 weeks of endurance training combined with spirulina supplementation on the expression of apoptosis-inducing factors in the hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: A total of 28 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups by intraperitoneal injection and a single dose of streptozocin (50 mg/kg) including: 1. Diabetes control group, 2. Diabetes + Spirulina group, 3. Diabetes + Exercise group and 4. Diabetes + Exercise + Spirulina group. The exercise program of the exercise groups started for 20 minutes at a speed of 14 cm/s and continued for 45 minutes at a speed of 24 cm/s until the sixth week. Spirulina was administered at a rate of 500 mg/kg body weight via gavage. 48 hours after the last exercise session, hippocampal expression of proBDNF/p75NTR and NF-κB genes was evaluated by RT-PCR method and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-23 software and one-way ANOVA method. Results: The intervention methods caused downregulation of the studied genes compared to the diabetes control group. A significant decrease in proBDNF and NF-κB expression at the p≤0.001 level and p75NTR expression at the p≤0.01 level was observed in the combined exercise group compared to the diabetes group. There was a difference between the single intervention groups only in p75NTR expression (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Endurance exercise and spirulina supplementation effectively regulate apoptosis in diabetes, suggesting potential benefits in mitigating neurological, metabolic, and cognitive impairments in diabetic patients. Abstract <br />Background& purpose: Apoptosis is a progressive disorder in diabetes that gradually affects nerves and tissues. Lifestyle modification is one of the approaches to combat diabetes-related complications, which is why exercise and proper nutrition have always been emphasized by specialists. This study investigates the effect of 6 weeks of endurance training combined with spirulina supplementation on the expression of apoptosis-inducing factors in the hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: A total of 28 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups by intraperitoneal injection and a single dose of streptozocin (50 mg/kg) including: 1. Diabetes control group, 2. Diabetes + Spirulina group, 3. Diabetes + Exercise group and 4. Diabetes + Exercise + Spirulina group. The exercise program of the exercise groups started for 20 minutes at a speed of 14 cm/s and continued for 45 minutes at a speed of 24 cm/s until the sixth week. Spirulina was administered at a rate of 500 mg/kg body weight via gavage. 48 hours after the last exercise session, hippocampal expression of proBDNF/p75NTR and NF-κB genes was evaluated by RT-PCR method and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-23 software and one-way ANOVA method. Results: The intervention methods caused downregulation of the studied genes compared to the diabetes control group. A significant decrease in proBDNF and NF-κB expression at the p≤0.001 level and p75NTR expression at the p≤0.01 level was observed in the combined exercise group compared to the diabetes group. There was a difference between the single intervention groups only in p75NTR expression (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Endurance exercise and spirulina supplementation effectively regulate apoptosis in diabetes, suggesting potential benefits in mitigating neurological, metabolic, and cognitive impairments in diabetic patients. https://jahssp.azaruniv.ac.ir/article_15024_8e67ae04c4231437c76f9d3160c19bd8.pdf