The effect of a period of swimming training with different temperatures on the expression of β3-AR and ERK2 genes in the visceral adipose tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

β3-AR and ERK2 are key factors in regulating adipose tissue metabolism and its conversion to brown adipose tissue. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of a period of swimming training with different temperatures on the expression of β3-AR and ERK2 genes in the visceral adipose tissue of diabetic rats.

28 male 2-month-old Wistar rats with a mean weight of 200±20 g were selected. After diabetic induction through streptozotocin solution, divided into 4 groups: 1) healthy control, 2) diabetic control, 3) diabetic water swimming training 5 °C and 4) diabetic water swimming training 36 °C (n=7 per each group) were divided. The training groups trained aerobic swimming training for 5 days/week for 4 weeks according to Protocol. One-way ANOVA and Tukey Post-hoc tests were used to analyze the data.

A significant decrease in β3-AR gene expression was observed (P=0.0001), and the results showed that this difference was significant between pairs of healthy control groups compared to other groups (P=0.0001). Also, ERK2 gene expression showed a significant increase (P=0.0001), and the results showed that this is a significant difference between pairs of healthy control groups with water swimming training 36 °C (P=0.001) and diabetic control group with water swimming training 36 °C (P=0.001).

Four weeks of swimming training decreased β3-AR and increased ERK2, which can be concluded to play an important role in the metabolism of white adipose tissue and its conversion to brown adipose tissue.