The Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Gene Expression of Apoptotic Markers in the Skeletal Muscle of Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background & aim: Apoptosis plays an important role in the pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on gene expression of apoptotic markers in the skeletal muscle of diabetic rats. Methods: In the present experimental study, three male Wistar rats weighing 220±20 g were randomly divided into 4 groups including: baseline control, eight weeks control, diabetes mellitus, exercise and diabetes mellitus. In the present study, rats were diabetic intraperitoneally using streptozotocin in a single dose of 50 mg / kg. Intermittent exercise with intensity of 0.55% maximal oxygen consumption was performed 5 days a week for 2 weeks. The expression of Caspase3 and Bcl2 genes was measured by Ray-Tom-Pissar method. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. Results: The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the mean of Bcl2 gene expression and Caspase-3 skeletal muscle in diabetic rats (p = 0.0001). Skeletal muscle Bcl2 gene expression was significantly higher in exercise (p = 0.0001) and exercise-diabetes (p = 0.048) than diabetic group (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, the expression of Caspase-3 gene in skeletal muscle was significantly lower in diabetic group (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Diabetes appears to be associated with increased skeletal muscle apoptosis, and vigorous intermittent exercise may help to regulate apoptosis in skeletal muscle during diabetes, therefore it is recommended that these exercises be considered for diabetic patients.

Keywords

• High-intensity interval training
• Caspas3
• Bcl2
• Diabetes