Effect of Eight Weeks of Endurance Training on the Protein Levels of Some Angiogenesis Indicators in the Cardiac Tissue of Rats with Morphine Withdrawal Syndrome

Background: Exercise is a therapeutic procedure for addicts; however, its physiological mechanisms are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of endurance training on the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin in the heart tissue of male rats with morphine withdrawal syndrome. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 32 male rats randomly divided into four groups of eight: healthy control (HC), endurance training (ET), morphine control (CM), and morphine+endurance training (M.ET). Two morphine withdrawal groups were addicted to 0.4 mg/ml morphine sulfate for 21 days. The exercise groups performed eight weeks of treadmill running. At the end of the study, all rats were killed, and their heart tissue was removed. Protein levels of the indicators in this study were measured by ELISA kits. The data were analyzed by Tukey’s one-way ANOVA test. Results: The results of this study showed a significant decrease in VEGF levels (P<0.001) and a significant increase in ES (P<0.001) in the MC, compared to the HC. In addition, the increase in VEGF levels (P=0.014) and the decrease in ES (P=0.026) in the M.ET showed a significant difference, compared to the MC. Conclusion: Endurance training may be useful in preventing negative changes in angiogenesis and metabolic parameters related to morphine, which should be considered in the rehabilitation of addicts.