ABSTRACT
The liver plays a central role in insulin-like growth factor [IGF] system homeostasis. We examine the protective aerobic training on the IGF system following doxorubicin [DOX] induced hepatotoxicity. In this experimental study 48 Wistar male rats [weighing 257 +/- 28 g] were divided into 6 groups: [1] control+placebo [2] control+DOX 10 mg/kg [3] control+DOX 20 mg/kg [4] training+placebo [5] training+DOX 10 mg/kg [6] training+DOX 20 mg/kg. Hepatotoxicity was induced by DOX [10 and 20 mg/kg]. Rats in the 4, 5 and 6 groups performed treadmill running of 25 to 54 min/day and 15 to 20 m/min, 5 days/wk for 6 weeks. While, DOX 10 mg/kg administration result in an insignificant increase in IGF-1 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 and an insignificant decrease in IGFBP-3, DOX 20 mg/kg administration caused a significant increase in IGF-1 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3, an insignificant decrease in IGFBP-3, as compared to the group 1. Three weeks of the endurance exercise resulted in a significant decrease of IGF-1 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 levels, and significant increase in IGFBP-3, as compared to the group 1. Furthermore, after 3 weeks endurance training and DOX treatment with 10 mg/kg an insignificant decrease in IGF-1, an insignificant increase in IGFBP-3 and a significant decrease in IGF-1/IGFBP-3 were detected, in comparison to group 2. DOX hepatotoxicity is dose-dependent, acute administration of DOX 20 mg/kg caused an imbalance in the IGF system and protective aerobic training may improve DOX-induced hepatotoxicity by up-regulation of IGFBP3