The effect of endurance training on expression of AMPK and AKT in liver tissue of diabetics male rats.

The aim of this study was to investigated the effect of endurance training on the gene and protein expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and protein kinase B (AKT) in liver tissue of male rats with diabetes. In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided to 4 groups: diabetic group (D), control group (C), exercise group (E), Exercise and diabetic group (ED). Then 16 rats received Strepotozocin injection to induce diabetes. Groups of E and ED performed the designed aerobic exercise protocol five sessions per week for eight weeks. At the end of the protocol, rat liver tissue was extracted, RT-PCR was used to measure gene expression and Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to express AMPK and AKT proteins, respectively. Then RNA was calculated using the formula of 2-DDCT and the data of gene and protein expression AMPK were analyzed with univariate analysis of variance. The results showed that there was no significant difference between AMPK and AKT between group E and group C in both RNA and protein levels (P>0.05). In group D compared to group C in the level of protein, both variables were significantly reduced (P<0.001), AKT was significantly decreased at RNA level (P<0.033) and AMPK was significantly increased (P<0.001). Both variables in protein level were significantly increased in group ED compared to group D (P<0.001), while changes in RNA level were not significant. Diabetes exerts destructive effects on liver tissue by reducing AMPK and AKT and disrupting pathways dependent on these variables, and aerobic exercise can improve diabetes by increasing these two variables to some extent.