Short-Term Effect of Aerobic Exercise and High-Fat Diet and Consumption of Curcumin Extract on Leptin Gene Expression in Liver Tissue in Male Rats

Introduction: Leptin is a protein hormone with a spiral structure similar to cytokines, which is mainly synthesized and released by subcutaneous fat cells in a steady pulsating manner with a peak secretion near midnight. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term effects of aerobic exercise and high-fat diet and curcumin extract on leptin gene expression in the liver tissue of male rats. Methods: Fifty male rat with two-month-old were prepared and divided into five groups: control (G1), high-fat diet (G2), curcumin and high-fat diet (G3), exercise and high-fat diet (G4), curcumin+exercise+high-fat diet (G5). Data analysis was compared using one-way analysis of variance. Bonferroni s post hoc test was used to accurately determine the differences between groups. The mean of intra-group differences was also compared using the t-test of the sample. Results: The results showed a significant difference in the average leptin gene expression of subjects among 5 groups. The results of Bonferroni s post hoc test also showed an increase in the high-fat diet group compared to the control group(P=0.0001), and a decrease in the high-fat diet + curcumin group(P=0.0001), the high-fat diet + exercise group(P=0.0001), and the high-fat diet + exercise + curcumin group compared to the control group(P=0.0001). Conclusion: Leptin gene is expressed under the influence of short-term exercises and the consumption of curcumin, which is an antioxidant. So that the use of each agent alone causes a decrease or increase in the leptin gene expression in the liver, and the simultaneous use of both factors causes a decrease in the leptin gene expression of these cells in the muscle tissue.