Interaction effect of Aerobic Training and Berberine Chloride intake on the Expression of TGF-β and Smad4 of Heart Tissue in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes leads to extensive cardiac fibrosis, which worsens as disease progresses, culminating in diabetic cardiomyopathy. In this study, we investigated the effect of aerobic exercise (AT) and berberine chloride (BR) on the expression of TGF-β/Smad4 heart tissue in diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats (276/09±17.03, 10 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups (n=8): Diabetes (DM), Diabetes-Berberine (BRDM), Diabetes-Aerobic Training (ATDM), Diabetes-Aerobic Training-Berberine (ATBRDM). Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin. Training groups have performed a progressive aerobic running program (at 10-18 m/min, 10-40 min/day, and 5 days/week) on a motor-driven treadmill for six weeks. Berberine chloride (30 mg/kg/day) were administered orally, by gavage, once a day. At the end of six weeks-- heart tissue samples were collected. TGF-β and Smad4 gene expression levels were measured by real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using ANOVA at p<0.05.

The results showed that AT, BR and AT-BR combination in diabetic rats significantly decreased TGF-β (p = 0. 0001)) and Smad4 (p = 0. 0001) in heart tissue. Also, a significant decreased the amount of this index was observed in the ATBRDM compared to the BRDM and ATDM groups (p <0.05).

AT and BR by improving heart tissue fibrosis markers is an effective strategy to improve cardiac fibrosis in diabetic rats with STZ. In addition, AT and BR supplementation showed a protective cardioprotective effect of reducing cardiac fibrosis markers.