High intensity interval training leads to protein synthesis through the complex pathway of a target of rapamycin (mTORC1) in the heart muscle tissue of a type 1 diabetic rats

The complex pathway of a rapamycin target in mammals (mTORC1) is one of the important pathways in protein synthesis in the heart, which in type 1diabetes can led to impairment and is a factor for hypertrophy. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on the mTORC1 pathway in heart muscle tissue of type 1 diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, 16 SpragueDawley male rats (with mean weight of 300±20 gr) were selected and after induction of diabetes by STZ and nicotinamide were randomly assigned into two groups: diabetic training (8 head) and diabetic control (8 head). The experimental group performed 4 days a week the exercise training for 4 weeks, while the control group did not have any training program. Independent T-test was used to analyze the data.

There was a significant increase in the content of AKT1 (p < 0.027), mTOR (p < 0.003) and P70S6K1 (p < 0.024) proteins in the training group compared to control group, while significant change was not observed in the content of 4EBP1 (p < 0.75) in the training group compared to control group.

HIIT for 4 weeks can activate the pathway AKT1/mTOR/P70S6K1 on the mTORC1 pathway. Therefore, HIIT by this pathway could lead to physiologic hypertrophy in the heart of type 1 diabetic subjects.