The effect of 4 weeks high intensity interval training (HIIT) on the content of FOXO3a Beclin-1 proteins in the left ventricular heart tissue with type 2 diabetic rats

Autophagy is a mechanism that could be inhibited or activated through exercise. FOXO3a and Beclin-1 proteins are important proteins in autophagy regulation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of 4 weeks high intensity interval training (HIIT) on the content of FOXO3a and Beclin-1 proteins in the left ventricular heart tissue with type 2 diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, 12 two-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats with a mean weight of 270±20 g were selected. After diabetic induction with STZ and Nicotinamide, rats were randomly assigned to two groups, diabetic training (6 heads) and diabetic control (6 heads). The training group trained for 4 days a week in accordance with the training program for 4 weeks, while the control group did not have any training program. Also, the rats did not receive any insulin treatment during the study period. The protein content of the present study was measured by Western blotting. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 19 and independent t-test.

Four weeks of HIIT training resulted in a significant decrease in FOXO3a (P=0.03) and Beclin-1 (P=0.0001) proteins content in the diabetic training group compared to the diabetic control group.

 Four weeks of HIIT training would decrease the content of FOXO3a and Beclin-1 proteins which leads to inhibition of autophagy in the left ventricle of subjects with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, HIIT training could be a new therapeutic approach in diabetics.