Gundogdu, GulsahTasci, Seymanur YilmazGundogdu, KoksalKapakin, Kubra Asena TerimDemirkaya, Alper KursatNalci, Kemal AlpAbd El-Aty, A. M.2025-05-102025-05-1020231715-53121715-532010.1139/apnm-2021-08012-s2.0-85146139985https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2021-0801https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14720/10017Nalci, Kemal Alp/0000-0003-3786-5246; Yilmaz Tasci, Seymanur/0000-0003-2510-743X; Gundogdu, Gulsah/0000-0002-9924-5176; Abd El-Aty, A. M./0000-0001-6596-7907; Gundogdu, Mustafa/0000-0003-2527-0392This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of omega-3 supplementation with exercise in a collagenase-induced Achilles tendinopathy (AT) rat model. Experimental groups (healthy control (HC), AT, exercise (Ex), omega-3 (W), and Ex+W) were randomly allocated. After a week of adaptation, oral omega-3 was initiated for 8weeks (5 days/week). The exercise groups performed treadmill running for 30min/day (5 days/week, 20m/min, 8 weeks) following one week of adaptation (10 m/min, 15 min/day). Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and total antioxidant-oxidant status (TAS) levels were determined in serum samples. Tendon samples were obtained for biomechanical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical assessments. Ultimate tensile force, yield force, stiffness values, collagen type-I alpha 1 expression, and serum TAS significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in AT vs. HC. These values and expression significantly increased in the Ex+W group vs. AT. Serum MMP-13, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha levels decreased in all treatment groups vs. AT. The most significant decrease was found in the Ex+W group (P < 0.01). Histopathologically, the improvement in degeneration was statistically significant in the Ex+Wgroup (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemically, MMP-13, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and nitric oxide synthase2 expression was decreased in all treatment groups vs. AT. In conclusion, omega-3 and exercise might be recommended in AT patients.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessAchilles TendinopathyExerciseOmega-3RatArticle481N/AQ2627336458821WOS:000899564100001