Improvement of Fasting Glucose in Response to Resistance Training with Emphasis on the Expression of Hepatic PGC1α and HNF4α Genes in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Sayed Sadegh  Salehi; Mojtaba  Eizadi; Saeid  Sedaghaty; Yaser  Kazemzadeh; Sanaz Mirzayan  Shanjani

doi:10.18502/ssu.v33i3.18841

Sayed Sadegh Salehi Department of Exercise Physiology, Islamshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Mojtaba Eizadi Department of Exercise Physiology, Saveh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran.
Saeid Sedaghaty Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Islamshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Yaser Kazemzadeh Department of Exercise Physiology, Islamshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Sanaz Mirzayan Shanjani Department of Exercise Physiology, Islamshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ssu.v33i3.18841

Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes, Resistance Exercise, Gluconeogenic Gene Expression, Hepatic Glucose Release.

Abstract

Introduction: Genetic studies have supported the importance of hepatic glucose release in hyperglycemia among individuals with type 2 diabetes. This study investigated the effect of 6 weeks of resistance training on hepatocytes genes PGC1α and HNF4α expression as well as fasting glucose levels in rats with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This experimental study involved 21 male Wistar rats made obese by a 6-week high-fat diet. Subsequently, T2D was induced in 14 rats through STZ administration via intraperitoneal injection. Finally, the observed rats were divided into 3 groups (n=7): 1) non-diabetes, 2) diabetic control, 3) resistant to diabetic. The rats in the resistance group were completed resistance training for six weeks (5 times a week) by climbing a ladder while applying resistance. The control obese and control T2D groups did not participate in the resistance training. Forty-eight hours following the prolonged exercise session, hepatocytes genes PGC1α and HNF4α expression, along with serum insulin, glucose, and insulin resistance, was analyzed using One-Way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test across different groups.

Results: T2D induction led to significant decrease in insulin levels and an increase in fasting glucose, alongside increased insulin resistance and hepatocytes genes PGC1α and HNF4α expression when compared to non-diabetes rats. Resistance training resulted in a significant increase in serum insulin (p = 0.043) and a decrease in fasting glucose (p = 0.001), insulin resistance (p = 0.001) and hepatocytes HNF4α expression (p = 0.001), compared to the control diabetic group.

Conclusion: Six weeks of resistance training resulted in a reduction in fasting glucose, and this improvement may be linked to a decrease in HNF4α expression and insulin resistance resulting from the resistance training.