The Effect of Aerobic Training and Tribulus Terrestris Hydroalcoholic Extract Consumption on Muscle Atrophy Indices in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases worldwide. The disease affects millions of people around the world and its prevalence is increasing rapidly. Muscle atrophy eventually leads to changes in intracellular signaling pathways that are involved in maintaining a balance between protein synthesis and breakdown. Muscle atrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes reduces muscle function, interrupts daily activities, and reduces the quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aerobic training and Tribulus terrestris hydroalcoholic extract consumption on Muscle Atrophy Indices in type 2 diabetic rats.

This experimental research was performed with 42 male Wistar rats that were randomly divided into seven groups. Dexamethasone (750 μg/kg/day) was injected intraperitoneally into rats. Rats were type 2 diabetic using peritoneal injection nicotinamide-STZ (60 μg/kg). Rats in supplemented groups received Tribulus terrestris hydroalcoholic extract with doses of 5 and 10 mg per day by gavage method. Aerobic training was performed on a treadmill at a speed of 23 m/min, 30 min/day, 5 days/week for eight weeks. 24 hours after the last training session, rat soleus muscle was collected. 24 hours after the last training session, the mice were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of ketamine [90 mg / kg] and xylazine [10 mg / kg], then a sample of horseshoe muscle tissue was collected. Horseshoe muscle tissue was isolated and after washing with PBS solution was immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen (-196 ° C) and then stored at -80 ° C. Concentration of 6-methylguanine using DLdevelop ELISA kit from Canada with detection range of 1000-125 pg / ml, sensitivity 27 pg / ml and coefficient of variation of 10-12%, expression level of Atrogin-1, MURF-1 and MiR-29b was measured by Real-time PCR and PAB horseshoe tissue was measured by immunoassay. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to ensure the normal distribution of variables. Two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc test were used to compare the mean changes of the studied factors in the groups. Significance level was considered p≤0.05 in all cases. All statistical operations were performed with SPSS software version 23.

The results showed that aerobic training, Tribulus extract and combined intervention of Tribulus extract with aerobic training resulted in a significant decrease in the expression genes of Atrogin-1(p=0.001), MURF-1 (p=0.001) and MiR-29b (p=0.001), as well as a significant increase in methyl guanine (p=0.001) and oxidant-prooxidant balance (PAB) (p=0.001) levels in male wistar rats exposed to dexamethasone. Therefore, administration of Tribulus terrestris extract along with aerobic exercise may be useful and effective due to the antioxidant effects of Tribulus terrestris and aerobic exercise, as well as their effect on the elimination of destructive metabolites and the expression of genes involved in muscle atrophy in diabetes. One of the limitations of the present study is the lack of measurement of other factors related to oxidative stress in skeletal muscle. Measuring signaling pathways such as PKC pathway regulation can also more clearly show the effects of physical activity on the transcription factors involved in skeletal muscle atrophy in people with diabetes. However, more research is needed in this area.

The results of the present study showed that aerobic exercise significantly reduced the expression of Atrogin-1, MURF-1 and MiR-29b genes as well as significantly increased levels of O-6-methyl guanine-DNA-methyltransferase and oxidant-prooxidant (PAB) balance in rats. Became type 2 diabetic. Diabetes is widely and closely related to oxidative stress due to the intensification of the formation of oxygen free radicals. Various studies have shown that high blood sugar is associated with increased oxidative stress and this leads to many complications of the disease. In summary, the results of the present study showed that aerobic exercise, Tribulus terrestris extract and combined intervention of Tribulus terrestris extract with aerobic exercise reduced the expression of genes involved in muscle atrophy, as well as increased oxidant-prooxidant balance in male Wistar rats exposed to dexa. Metazone. Therefore, according to the results, it seems that the combined intervention of Tribulus terrestris extract with aerobic exercise can help improve the condition during diabetes by reducing the expression of genes involved in muscle atrophy. It is suggested that in the future, a study be conducted on the effect of different doses of Tribulus terrestris extract and exercise on signaling pathways affecting muscle atrophy in type 2 diabetic subjects. It seems that the combined intervention of Tribulus terrestris extract with aerobic exercise can help improve the condition during diabetes by reducing the expression of genes involved in muscle atrophy.