Effect of Endurance Training on Cerebellar Gene Expression of the ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6 in Rats with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Experimental evidence demonstrated that endurance training (ET) could be beneficial for the diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), but its mechanism is not clear. Due to the critical role of the ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf6) in the nervous system, the current study aimed at evaluating the effects of ET on gene expression of Arf6 in cerebellum of male Wistar rats with DPN. Animals were randomly divided into three groups: Control (C), diabetic control (DC), and diabetic trained (DT). Diabetes induction was performed by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Behavioral nociception assessment was conducted by Von Frey filaments and tail flick tests. Treadmill protocol consisted of six weeks of moderate intensity endurance training. The Arf6 cerebellar gene expression was assessed by the real-time PCR. In the current study, the Arf6 gene expression levels in the DC group were significantly higher than those of the C group (P = 0.003). Also, ET could damp this elevation in diabetic rats (P = 0.004). It seems that Arf6 is an important mediator of stress-induced plasticity in the nervous system in response to ET and neurodegeneration disease, but the exact physiological functions of Arf6 are not clear. Hence, further studies are required to identify these issues.