Abstract
Background: Chemotherapy drugs can cause liver damage by causing hepatotoxicity. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the interactive effect of continuous training and Crocin supplementation on hepatocyte apoptosis in male rats induced by doxorubicin. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to: (1) Healthy, (2) doxorubicin (Dox), (3) Dox + crocin (Cr), (4) Dox + continuous training (CT), and (5) Dox + CT + Cr. Group 1 received normal saline daily; groups 2 to 5 received (7 × 2 mg/kg) Dox intraperitoneal; groups 3 and 5 received 10 mg/kg crocin orally on a daily basis, and groups 4 and 5 were trained 5 days/week (60 - 70 of maximum speed) for 8 weeks. Results: The Dox group had the highest mean percentage of apoptotic hepatocytes (64.33 ± 6.02) compared to other groups (P < 0.05). In contrast, tissue apoptosis was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in all intervention groups: Dox + CT (30.67 ± 4.04%), Dox + Cr (18 ± 2.64%), and Dox + CT + Cr (13.67 ± 1.52%); however, the improvement was greater in the group receiving crocin. Conclusions: Continuous training, Cr, and their combination significantly reduced hepatocyte apoptosis in male rats exposed to Dox-induced toxicity. However, a greater reduction in liver tissue apoptosis was recorded for the Crocin-treated groups.