The aims of the current study were to investigate the oxidant and antioxidant status of liver tissue
challenged by doxorubicin and to examine the possible protective effects of aerobic exercise
on doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress. Seventy-two rats were divided into three age groups
(Young, Adult, and Elderly) with three treatment subgroups consisting of eight rats per age
group: doxorubicin, aerobic exerciseþdoxorubicin, and aerobic exerciseþsaline. The experimental
groups performed regular treadmill running for 3 weeks. Doxorubicin was administered by i.p.
injection at a dosage of 20mg kg1 while the aerobic exerciseþsaline group received saline of a
comparable volume. Heat shock protein 70, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, and protein
carbonyl were determined from the liver homogenates following the intervention period.
Treatment with doxorubicin induced hepatotoxicity in all groups with lower values of oxidative
stress in young compared with the older groups. The inclusion of aerobic exercise training significantly
increased heat shock protein 70 and antioxidant enzyme levels (glutathione peroxidase)
whereas it decreased oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl) for all
age groups. These results suggest that aerobic exercise training may be a potential, non-drug
strategy to modulate doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity through its positive impact on antioxidant
levels and oxidative stress biomarkers.