Effect of 4 weeks of High-Intensity Interval Training on P53 and Caspase-3 Proteins Content in the Heart Muscle Tissue of Rats with Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes can lead to muscle apoptosis and a defect in the structure of the heart tissue. One of the main pathways of apoptosis is the pathway activated by the P53 and Caspase-3 proteins. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 4 weeks of high intensity interval training on the content of P53 and Caspase-3 proteins in heart muscle tissue of Sprague-Dawley rats with type 1 diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, twelve 2-month-old Sprague-Dawley male rats with mean weight of 300±20 gr were selected and after induction of diabetes through streptozotocin solution, randomly divided into 2 groups: experimental (n= 6) and control (n= 6). The training program consisted of 5 stages of 4-minute with an intensity of 85 to 95% of the maximum speed and 3-minute active rest periods with an intensity of 50 to 60% of the maximum speed. Proteins were measured by Western-Blot in vitro. SPSS software version 16 and independent t-test were used to analyze the data.

High intensity interval training resulted in a significant reduction in the P53 protein content of the training group compared to the control group (P=0.003). However, there was no significant change in the content of Caspase-3 in the activated form (P=0.71) and the initial form (P=0.15) in the training group compared to the control group.

High intensity interval training, by reducing the content of the P53 protein and preventing the activation of the caspase-3 protein, may have inactivated the apoptosis pathway of these two proteins in heart cells in type 1 diabetic subjects.