Vimentin, a cytoskeletal protein in cardiomyocytes, plays a key role in maintaining structural integrity and transmitting mechanical signals.

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of resistance training (RT), endurance training (ET), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiac vimentin levels in male Wistar rats.

Thirty-two male rats (8 weeks old, average weight of 218.6±13.8 grams) were divided into four groups: control, RT, ET, and HIIT. The 8-week protocols included: ladder climbing for RT, continuous running at 65–70% VO₂max for ET, and intervals at 85–90% VO₂max for HIIT. Cardiac vimentin levels were assessed via immunofluorescence. Data were analyzed using ANOVA.

All exercise training groups showed a significant increase in cardiac vimentin compared to the control group (P=0.0001). The HIIT group exhibited the highest increase, significantly surpassing both ET (P=0.001) and RT (P=0.0001).

the findings suggest that exercise training, particularly HIIT, increases cardiac vimentin levels in rats. This increase may represent a structural adaptation in response to exercise-induced mechanical stress. However, given the dual role of vimentin in both physiological and pathological processes, these results should be interpreted with caution Future studies correlating vimentin changes with cardiac function and fibrosis markers are essential to define this response's exact nature.