Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha (HIF-1α) Gene Expression in Heart Tissue and Insulin Resistance Index in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

One of the most common metabolic diseases is diabetes with hyperglycemic properties and endogenous insulin dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 10 weeks HIIT on HIF-1α gene expression in heart tissue of rats with type 2 diabetes.

In this experimental study, 36 Wister rats with a mean weight of 200±58g were randomly assigned to control, diabetic, and diabetic training groups. The diabetic training group received HIIT 10 weeks after induction of diabetes. Twenty-four hours after the last training session, blood serum samples and heart tissue were collected for analysis. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test at a significance level of 0.05%. 

The results of the present study showed that type 2 diabetes significantly reduces the expression of the HIF-1α gene in the heart tissue of mice with type 2 diabetes (P=0.001). However, HIIT significantly increased the expression of the HIF-1α gene in the diabetic group with exercise compared to the diabetic control group (P = 0.001). The results also showed that HIIT training significantly reduced the insulin resistance index in the diabetic group with exercise compared to the diabetic control group (P = 0.001). At 10 weeks, HIIT had no significant effect on the left ventricular weight of heart tissue (P> 0.05).

In general, based on our findings, diabetes appears to significantly reduce the expression of the HIF-1α gene in heart tissue and HIIT may increase insulin sensitivity and protect HIF-1α from their heart tissue.