The Effect of Endurance and High-Intensity Interval Training on the Content MSTN and Follistatin Proteins in the Left Ventricular Tissue of The Heart of Type 1 and 2 Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is an important factor in heart defects that can lead to atrophy of heart cells. Exercise can prevent the complications of diabetes by regulating cellular factors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of endurance and high-intensity interval training on the content MSTN and Follistatin proteins in the left ventricular tissue of the heart of type 1 and 2 diabetic rats

In this study, 36 head 2-month-old male Sprague-Dawley male rats with a mean weight of 280±30 g were selected. After induction of type 1 (18 head) and 2 (18 head) diabetics through streptozotocin and nicotinamide solution, each type of diabetes was randomly divided into 3 groups: endurance training, HIIT and control (6 heads per group); The training groups performed endurance (50 to 70% of maximum speed) and HIIT (intensity 85 to 95% of maximum speed) training program 4 days a week for 4 weeks; Data analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests in SPSS software.

Endurance training and HIIT in diabetic training groups led to a significant decrease in MSTN protein content (P=0.0001) and an increase in Follistatin protein content (P=0.0001).

It seems that four weeks of endurance training and HIIT can prevent excessive myocardial atrophy by decreasing the MSTN content and increasing Follistatin. Therefore, exercise training with the intensity, duration and type can be a good defense and treatment mechanisms for diabetics to prevent or reduce heart complications.