The Effect of Six Weeks of Moderate-Intensity Endurance Training on Serum Levels of Klotho and Expression of the Fibroblast-23 Growth Factor Gene (FGF23) in the Hearts of Diabetic Rats: An Experimental Study

Diabetic patients are highly susceptible to cardiovascular involvement. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of six weeks of moderate-intensity endurance training on serum levels of Klotho and expression of the fibroblast-23 growth factor (FGF23) gene in the hearts of diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, 21 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of seven: diabetic training group (DT), diabetic control group (DC), and healthy control group (HC). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ). Animals performed moderate-intensity endurance training for six weeks. Serum levels of Klotho and FGF23 gene expression in the heart tissue were evaluated by Elisa method and real time PCR, respectively. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe’s post hoc test.

The findings showed that after six weeks of training, blood glucose concentration (mg/dl) in the DT group was significantly lower than the DC group (p=0.001), and serum levels of Klotho (ng/ml) was significantly increased compared to the DC (p=0.032), but there was no significant difference between the DT and DC groups in the expression of FGF23 gene (relative expression) (p=0.171).

The results suggested that moderate-intensity endurance training has a positive effect on the serum levels of Klotho and blood glucose, and it appears to be somewhat protective of heart function.