Effect of Resistance and Endurance Trainings on Nrf2/Keap1 Signaling Pathway in Testicular Tissue of Type 2 Diabetic Rats

The antioxidant Nrf2/Keap1 pathway prevents cellular damages against oxidative stress and this pathway is disrupted following diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of endurance and resistance training on antioxidant Nrf2/Keap1 pathway in testicular tissue of diabetic rats.

In this experimental research, 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, resistance training control, endurance training control, diabetic, diabetic resistance training, and diabetic endurance training. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg nicotinamide and 65 mg/kg streptozotocin after 12 hours of fasting. Seventy two hours after induction of diabetes, resistance and endurance training protocols were performed for 10 weeks. Afterwards, the expression of Keap1, Nrf2, and HO1 genes in testicular tissues were measured by real-time PCR.

According to findings, induction of diabetes significantly decreased the expression of Nrf2 and HO1 (P<0.05), while the expression of Keap1 increased (P>0.05). Endurance training significantly increased the expression level of Nrf2 (P<0.05) and resistance training changed the expression level of genes related to Nrf2/Keap1 pathway (P>0.05).

Endurance and resistance exercises could activate Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway on gene expression following diabetes and by activating this pathway the complications of diabetes on testis might be reduced.