Global Medical and Health Communication
Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025): Accredited Sinta 2

Differential Effects of High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Moderate-intensity Continuous Training (MICT) on Cardiac Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL-1) mRNA Expression in Wistar Rats

Nova Sylviana (Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang)
Putri Karisa (Master of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran)
Futri Wulan Agustin (Undergraduate in Medicine Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang)
Badai Bhatara Tiksnadi (Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital-Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung)
Putri Teesa Radhiyanti Santoso (Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang)
Hanna Goenawan (Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Aug 2025

Abstract

Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) is a cardiokine that plays a protective role in cardiovascular health. Physical exercise, particularly aerobic training, has been shown to modulate FSTL1 expression. This study aims to compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on mRNA expression of FSTL1 in the cardiac tissue of Wistar rats. This study employed an in vivo approach and was conducted at the Laboratory of Science, Universitas Padjadjaran, from December 2024 to May 2025. A total of 18 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (no exercise, n=6), HIIT (n=6), and MICT (n=6), each undergoing an eight-week training protocol. Exercise was performed on a treadmill five times per week. Left ventricular heart muscle samples were collected for mRNA expression analysis of FSTL1 using real-time PCR. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by a post-hoc test. The results showed a significant difference in FSTL-1 expression among the three groups: control, MICT, and HIIT (p<0.05). Post-hoc tests revealed a substantial difference between the control and HIIT (p<0.05) and control and MICT (p<0.005) groups, but no significant difference was found between the MICT and HIIT groups (p>0.05). The absence of significant change in the MICT group compared to HIIT highlights the potential of HIIT as a more potent stimulus for cardioprotective gene expression. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and long-term effects. In conclusion, HIIT and MICT can upregulate cardiac FSTL-1 mRNA expression of Wistar rats.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

gmhc

Publisher

Subject

Description

Global Medical and Health Communication is a journal that publishes research articles on medical and health published every 4 (four) months (April, August, and December). Articles are original research that needs to be disseminated and written in English. Subjects suitable for publication include ...