The Effect of Progressive Resistance Training and High-Intensity Interval Training on Cardiac Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Gene Expression and Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in Male Diabetic Rats

The most common causes of mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus are cardiovascular disorders; and one of their reasons is inflammatory factors. Given that physical activity can reduce inflammation, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of two types of progressive resistance training (RT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) gene and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in male diabetic rats.

 In this experimental study, 72 male rats were divided into 6 groups of 12 diabetic rats, control, diabetic + intensity interval training (DIIT), HIIT, diabetic + resistance training (DRT), and RT. Progressive resistance training was performed in 6 week, 3 sessions per week, as climbing a vertical ladder with additional weights of 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100% the body weight of the animals. After successful completion, 30 grams were added to the weights, to the extent that the rats could not carry the ladder. HIIT were also performed at in 6 week, 3 sessions per week, with an intensity of 50% to 110% of the VO2</sub>max. 24 hours after the completion of the training, the hand grip and time to exhaustion functional test was taken, and the animals were autopsied 48 hours after the test. Finally, the expression of NF-κB gene was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) technique and ANOVA statistical test.

 The expression of NF-κB gene in HIIT group increased more than RT group (P = 0.0007), and serum TNF-α decreased significantly after both types of exercise in HIIT group (6/13) which was more obvious.

 6 weeks of HIIT and RT training can play an important role in significantly reducing inflammation, and adapting to strength and endurance.