The Effect of 12 Weeks of High Intensity Interval Training and High Intensity Continuous Training on VEGF, PEDF and PAI-1 Levels of Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues in Rats fed with High Fat Diet

Hypoxia of adipose tissue cells induces insulin resistance and increases cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training and continuous training on VEGF, PEDF and PAI-1 levels of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues in rats fed with high fat diet. 20 male Wistar rats (6 weeks old) were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1) heathy control (Co-S); 2) obese control (Co-HFD); 3) high intensity continuous training (HICT); 4) high intensity interval training (HIIT). Except for the Co-S group, all rats were subjected to high fat diet for 12 weeks. HICT with the intensity of 70-75% Vmax for 80 minutes and HIIT with 85-90% Vmax (13 repetitions, each 4 minutes) were performed for 12 weeks, 5 sessions per week. The amounts of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues proteins were measured by ELISA method. Data were analyzed by dependent t test and one-way ANOVA (P≤0.05). HICT (P=0.002) and HIIT (P=0.001) training modalities controlled weight changes caused by HFD and significantly reduced weight of rats. HIIT significantly increased the VEGF of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues and HICT significantly increased VEGF in visceral adipose tissue (P≤0.05). In addition, HICT and HIIT significantly reduced PEDF in subcutaneous adipose tissue and PAI-1 in visceral adipose tissue (P≤0.05). HIIT and HICT improve adipose tissue qualitative properties including vascularization which plays an important role in controlling the pathogenesis of obesity, especially insulin resistance and cardiovascular disorders.