The effect of high intensity aerobic training on the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the heart tissue of type 2 diabetic rats

Oxidative stress caused by hyperglycemia is an important factor in heart failure in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high intensity aerobic training on the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the heart tissue of type 2 diabetic rats. To implementation of this experimental research, 40 male Wistar rats (weight 185.2±22.7 gr) randomly were divided into 4 groups including control, diabetes, high intensity aerobic training and diabetes-high intensity aerobic training. In this study, the rats were type 2 diabetic using peritoneal injection nicotinamide-STZ. aerobic training performed with intensity of 85-90% VO2max, 5 days a week and for 8 weeks. The levels of the antioxidant catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in heart tissue were measured using kit and by ELISAmethod. Data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test at the P<0.05. The results showed that the levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in the heart tissue of type 2 diabetic control rats was lower than the healthy control group (P=0.001). Eight weeks of high intensity aerobic training significantly increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in the heart tissue of type 2 diabetic rats (P=0.001). It seems that regular high-intensity aerobic training can protect the damage to heart tissue cells against the harmful effects of oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant enzymes of heart tissue during diabetes.