The Impact of Resistance and Aerobic Training on the Insulin Synthesis Genes Expression in Diabetic Rats

In the last two decades, genetic studies have strongly supported the effective role of genetic factors on the synthesis of insulin from the pancreas. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of aerobic and resistance exercises on the expression of NeruoD1 and PDX1 in pancreatic tissue, as well as serum insulin and glucose levels in type 2 diabetic rats.

21 male wistar rats (220±10 g) were included. Then diabetic rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups: 1) control (no-training), 2) resistance training and 3) aerobic training. Exercise training lasted 10 weeks and 5 times weekly for training groups. After intervention, NeruoD1 and PDX1 expression in pancreas, insulin and glucose were compared between groups. Data compared by one way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test between groups (P < 0.05).

Compared to control rats, resistance and aerobic training led to significant increase in serum insulin (P: 0.001, P: 0.013 respectively), PDX1 expression (P: 0.001, P: 0.001 respectively) and decrease glucose (P: 0.001, P: 0.001 respectively). Significant difference was not observed between control and aerobic groups with regard to NeruoD1 expression (P: 0.077). In addition, NeruoD1 expression in resistance group was significantly higher than aerobic and control groups (P: 0.018, P: 0.001, respectively).

Despite the improvement of insulin and glucose in response to both aerobic and resistance training, it seems that resistance training affects genes affecting insulin synthesis and transcription more than aerobic training.