The effect of aerobic exercise on the function of the local renin-angiotensin system and gluconeogenesis pathway in the liver tissue of type 2 diabetic rats

One of the important and effective physiological systems in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes is the local renin-angiotensin system. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on the function of the local renin-angiotensin system and the gluconeogenesis pathway in the liver tissue of type 2 diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, 18 rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks, and then they developed type 2 diabetes by injecting a single dose of streptozotocin and HFD for four weeks. After the induction of type 2 diabetes, the rats were randomly divided into two groups: 1. diabetes-non-exercise group, 2. diabetes-exercise group. Rats in the exercise group trained 5 days/week, 45 minutes/session for 8 weeks on a treadmill with a mean speed of 20 meters per minute. Blood was collected from rats and liver tissue was extracted and frozen in liquid nitrogen to check the expression of angiotensin II, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), At1 receptor and Mass receptor genes.

Results of the present study showed that HFD consumption and streptozotocin injection increased blood glucose in rats (P=0.001). The ANOVA test showed that eight weeks of aerobic training caused a significant decrease in the expression of angiotensin II (P=0.001), PEPCK (P=0.003), At1 receptor (P=0.001) genes and the amount of blood glucose (P=0.002) in diabetes-exercise rats compared to diabetes-non-exercise group. Moreover, aerobic training led to a significant increase in the expression of Mass receptor (P=0.001) in diabetes-exercise rats compared to diabetes-non-exercise group.

Eight weeks of aerobic exercise can improve insulin sensitivity and type 2 diabetes by reducing angiotensin II, At1 receptor gene expression, inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis and increasing Mass receptor activity.