EFFECT OF AEROBIC TRAINING ON EXPRESSION OF PGC-1Α & PEPCK GENES IN HEPATOCYTE OF STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC MALE RATS

Recently, molecular cell studies about the effect of physical exercises on diabetics have attracted the attention of many researchers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 10 weeks aerobic training on the expression of PGC-1a and PEPCK genes in hepatocyte of nicotinamide-Streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.

In this experimental study, 18 diabetic male Wistar rats (mean weight, 220±20 g) were divided into two groups of control diabetic and aerobic diabetic (training: 5 times in week/10 weeks/for 15-50 minutes at a speed of 16-26 m/min, with a gradual increase in speed). Subjects were diabetic with nicotinamide-streptozotocin. 48 hours after the last training session, liver tissue samples were taken after an overnight fast. Glucose oxidase was used to measure fasting glucose and ELISA was used to measure serum insulin. Also, OMA-IR was measured. PGC-1a and PEPCK gene expression in hepatocyte was measured through Real-Time PCR. The obtained data were compared using an independent t-test. The significance level was considered to be p<0.05.

Independent t-test showed that the 10 weeks aerobic training significantly decreased the expression of PGC-1a (p=0.003) and PEPCK (p=0.023) liver tissue in the exercise group compared to the control group. Also, aerobic training reduced HOMA-IR in the exercise group compared to the control group.

The results of this study indicate that aerobic training in diabetic conditions can reduce PGC-1a and suppress PEPCK as a non-drug treatment, and improve glycemic profile.