Figure 3.

Effects of high-fat diet (HFD) and exercise training on mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling in the skeletal muscle (n = 6). HFD-induced obesity increased mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the skeletal muscle. The Bax protein level (A) was increased, and the Bcl-2 protein level (B) was conversely decreased by obesity. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (C), mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) opening sensitivity (D), and cytochrome c protein level (E) were higher in the HFD group than in the control (CON) group. However, exercise training ameliorated the obesity-induced increase in mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling, demonstrating that the protein levels of Bax and cytochrome c as well as the mitochondrial PTP opening sensitivity were attenuated by exercise training in the skeletal muscle. Data are presented as means ± standard errors. * p < 0.05 compared with the CON group. ^# p < 0.05 compared with the matched group. EX, exercise.