Effects of aerobic training on expression of HNF-4α and G6pase genes in hepatocyte of streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type-2 diabetic male rats

Regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis genes is one of the important mechanisms for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of aerobic training on the expression of HNF-4α and G6Pase genes in the liver tissue of Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide induced type-2 diabetic rats.

This experimental study was performed on 18 male rats weighing mean 220±20 gr in  aerobic diabetic and diabetic control groups for 10 weeks. Subjects became initially diabetic with Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide and then randomly assigned to either the diabetic control or aerobic diabetic groups. The training program was 5 times in week/10 weeks/for 15-50 minutes at a speed of 16-26 m/min, with a gradual increase in time and speed. The rats were anesthetized and operated 48 hours after the last training session. Blood sampling and measurement of research indicators were performed. The expression of HNF-4α and G6Pase proteins in liver rats was performed using RT-PCR method. Comparison with independent t-test was performed at the significant level P <0.05.

The expression changes of HNF-4α and G6Pase proteins between the two groups showed no significant difference between diabetic aerobic and control. Aerobic training also decreased serum glucose, significantly increased insulin levels and reduced HOMA-IR in the aerobic training group compared to the control group.

According to the results of this study, the mechanisms involved in improving glycemic profile with aerobic training in diabetic conditions can not be attributed to changes in the expression of HNF-4α and G6Pase genes.