The effect of six weeks of endurance, resistance and combined training on changes in Bax and Bcl2 protein levels in the left ventricle of rats with type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is considered as a predisposing factor for heart disease and has a major role in mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of six weeks of endurance, resistance and combined training on changes in Bax and Bcl2 protein levels in the left ventricle of rats with type 2 diabetes.

32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (N=7): control, endurance training, resistance training,  and combination training, and trained for six weeks. Diabetes was induced in rats by single dose injection of streptozotocin and Bax and Bcl2 protein levels were measured from the left ventricular tissue of rats by ELISA. Insulin levels, glucose levels and insulin resistance index were measured. To determine the significance of the differences between the research groups, one-way ANOVA statistical test was used at a significance level of p <0.05.

The results showed that there was a significant difference between the values of Bax protein in the left ventricle of diabetic Wistar rats in the exercise and control groups (p≤0.05). But there is no significant difference between training groups. Moreover , there is no significant difference between Bcl2 levels in cardiac tissue apoptosis in diabetic Wistar rats in exercise and control groups. There was a significant difference between insulin, glucose and insulin resistance levels in the training groups compared to the control group (p≤0.05).

It seems that 6 weeks of endurance, resistance training and especially combined Training improved glycemic index and reduced Bax protein levels compared to the untrained group but did not change Bcl2 protein levels. Therefore, it is better to consider and compare other training models in relation to cardiac apoptosis in diabetic rats.