The effect of an incremental training period on cardiomyocyte fibrosis in streptozotocin-diabetic male Wistar rats

Physical activity has an effect on the prevention and control of diabetes and its complications. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an incremental training period on cardiomyocyte fibrosis in streptozocin-diabetic male Wistar rats.

In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats (6-8 weeks) weighing 200 to 250 gr were randomly assigned into four groups: diabetes (n=10), healthy (n=10), diabetes+exercise (n=10) and healthy+exercise (n=10). The diabetes+exercise and healthy+exercise groups participated in an endurance activity program (treadmill running) for 6 weeks, 5 days a week (30 sessions). In this study, 48 hours after the completion of the protocol, rats were anesthetized and under sterile conditions, their heart tissue was isolated to evaluate the expression of collagen and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) genes using real-time PCR.

At the end of the research protocol, a significant change was observed in weight (P₌0.0001), myocardial TGF-β level (P₌0.0001) and myocardial collagen level (P₌0.0001).

The findings demonstrate that diabetes increases the expression of collagen and TGF-β genes in the heart tissue of male Wistar rats, while endurance activity reduces the increased expression of these genes.