The Effects of Endurance Trainings on Serum BDNF and Insulin Levels in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease which can induce neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. Exercises have a major role in reduction of these complications. Data on the role of exercises on BDNF and insulin levels in diabetic patients are controversial and there is no suitable exercise program for improvement of these indexes in diabetic patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of endurance trainings on BDNF and insulin levels in diabetic rats.
32 diabetic rats were divided in 4 groups of 8 rats; (1) diabetic rats sacrifice at first week, (2) diabetic rats sacrifice at last week, (3) diabetic rats with moderate intensity endurance training and (4) diabetic rats with high intensity endurance training. In addition, 16 healthy rats were divided in 2 groups of healthy sacrifice at first week and healthy sacrifice at last week. Rats of groups 3 and 4 ran on treadmill for 8 weeks (3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session with intensity of 10- 17 and 17- 28 meter per minute).
Induction of diabetes by streptozotocin significantly reduced BDNF and insulin levels in rats. Eight weeks’ moderate and high intensity endurance training significantly increased BDNF level but had no effect on insulin values in diabetic rats.
Moderate and high intensity endurance training may have protective effect on diabetes–induced complications in diabetic rats.