Effect of carnosine supplementation administered with exercise on some biomarkers related to angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is an important process for tissue repair and vascular adaptation and can be modulated by exercise and nutritional supplements. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise and carnosine supplementation on some biomarkers related to angiogenesis (HIF-1α, VEGF-A, MMP-9, ANG-1, Tumstatin and Endostatin) in myocard and brain tissue. In the study, 49 male Sprague Dawley rats aged 8-10 weeks were randomly divided into 7 groups as control (K), sham (S), carnosine (Kz), aerobic (AE), anaerobic (AnE), carnosine+aerobic (Kz+AE) and carnosine+anaerobic (Kz+AnE). Carnosine supplement (100 mg/kg/day) was given by oral gavage 5 days a week for 5 weeks. The exercises were performed as aerobic (30 min at 15 m/min and 0° incline) and anaerobic (30 min at 25 m/min and 0° incline) treadmill exercise protocols. After 5 weeks of intervention, myocard and brain tissues were taken from decapitated rats. The obtained tissue homogenates were analysed by ELISA according to the instructions given in the kit catalogue. In cardiac tissue, HIF-1α levels were higher in all groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). VEGF-A levels were higher in all groups compared to the control and sham groups (p<0.05), with the Kz+AE group being the highest among all groups (p<0.05). ANG-1 levels were higher in the AE, Kz+AE, and Kz+AnE groups compared to the control and sham groups (p<0.05). MMP-9 levels were lower in all groups compared to the control and sham groups (p<0.05). Tumstatin and endostatin levels were lower in the Kz, AE, AnE, Kz+AE, and Kz+AnE groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). In brain tissue, HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and MMP-9 levels did not show significant differences between groups (p>0.05). ANG-1 and tumstatin levels were higher in the AE, Kz+AE, and Kz+AnE groups compared to the control and sham groups (p<0.05). Endostatin levels were higher in all groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). Additionally, there were positive correlations between HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and ANG-1, and negative correlations between these parameters and MMP-9, endostatin, and tumstatin. The results of this study, for the first time, indicate that the combination of carnosine supplementation and different exercise protocols may induce changes in angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors. Furthermore, it can be stated that the responses observed in cardiac tissue were more pronounced than those in brain tissue. Keywords: Angiogenesis, Exercise, Carnosin