• The effect of lithium and exercise on the expression levels of mitochondrial genes (PGC1 and SIRT3) in the muscle of the Wistar rat: the role of BDNF protein
  • Mohadeseh Chahkandi,1,* elham shoghi,2
    1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
    2. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran


  • Introduction: Skeletal muscle is responsible for consuming a significant portion of the body's energy supply, accounting for roughly 40% of a healthy individual's body mass. In response to the stress of contractile activity, skeletal muscle undergoes changes in gene expression that lead to increased expression of cytoprotective proteins. peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator α (PGC-1α) and SIRT3 play a critical role in coordinating the activation of genes required for mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. Lithium is primarily indicated for the treatment of bipolar disorder, however, the positive effects of lithium on mitochondrial activity were also observed in in vivo. BDNF may be a contributing factor to the some of effects of lithium. The present study aims to examine the gene expression of SIRT3, PGC1-α, and BDNF enzyme following a 6-week moderate-intensity training and lithium intervention in 42 Wistar rats. It is hypothesized that this intervention will increase the levels of proteins associated with mitochondrial function.
  • Methods: In this research, 28 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups; I: Control (Crt), animals did not receive drug; II: Li10 (10 mg/kg/day/ip); III: Moderate-intensity training (MIT); IV: Li10 and MIT (Li10+ MIT). Moreover, the density of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) was assessed by the ELIZA method.
  • Results: Our data showed the positive effects of MIT and lithium on the expression of the PGC1 gene, however, the combination of MIT and lithium had opposite effects. The mRNA level of the SIRT3 gene in the studied groups was different compared to the PGC1 gene. Finally, we observed a positive role of BDNF protein in the exercise and lithium effects.
  • Conclusion: Our data showed the positive effects of MIT and lithium on the expression of the PGC1 gene, however, the combination of MIT and lithium had opposite effects. The mRNA level of the SIRT3 gene in the studied groups was different compared to the PGC1 gene. Finally, we observed a positive role of BDNF protein in the exercise and lithium effects.
  • Keywords: Moderate-intensity training, lithium, PGC1, SIRT3