The Effect of Long-Term High-Intensity Interval Training on the Intracellular Content of Mafbx and Murf1 Proteins in the Left Ventricular of the Heart of Rats With Type 2 Diabetes

MAFbx and MuRF1 proteins are important factors in the ubiquitin pathway and are responsible for muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the intracellular content of MAFbx and MuRF1 proteins in the left ventricular of the heart of rats with type 2 diabetes.

In this experimental study, 18 rats 2-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats with a mean weight of 270±20 g were selected. 12 rats became diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin and nicotinamide solutions. These rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: diabetic training and diabetic control; A healthy control group was also considered. The training group practiced HIIT 4 days a week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23 and one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests.

MAFbx protein content showed a significant decrease after 8 weeks of HIIT (P=0.0001); Tukey post hoc test showed that this change was significant between pairs groups of diabetic training and diabetic control and also between pairs groups of diabetic control and healthy control (P=0.0001). MuRF1 protein content showed a significant decrease (P=0.0001); This was a significant difference between the pairs groups of diabetic training and diabetic control, diabetic training and healthy control groups, as well as diabetic control and healthy control groups (P=0.0001).

HIIT seems to can inhibit the process of atrophy and autophagy of cardiomyocytes by reducing the content of MAFbx and MuRF1 proteins in the hearts of diabetic subjects.