The effect of two types of exercise (continuous and intermittent) and atrostatin on the expression of PP2Ac and GSK-3β genes in the heart tissue of diabetic rats

Apart from high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, diabetes can directly affect the structure and function of the heart and lead to a complication called diabetic cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of two types of training and the drug atrostatin on expression of PP2Ac and GSK-3β genes in the heart tissue of diabetic model rats.

Methods and Materials: 

64 male rats, which were randomly divided into 8 groups: including 1) control, 2) diabetic, 3) diabetic + persistent, 4) Diabetic + periodic, 5) atherostatin, 6) continuous + atrostatin, 7) periodic + atrostatin and 8) saline. The rats of the exercise groups performed two types of continuous and intermittent exercise 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Atrostatin was injected intraperitoneally daily at a dose of 20 mg per kg body weight.

Induction of diabetes led to a decrease in the expression of the PP2Ac gene and an increase in the expression of the GSK-3β gene in the heart tissue, and continuous exercise and the combination of intermittent and continuous exercise with the drug atrostatin led to an increase in PP2Ac and a decrease in GSK-3β in the heart tissue of diabetic rats compared to the diabetic group.

It is possible that regular exercise in combination with atrostatin can prevent the development of diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy by increasing the PP2Ac gene and decreasing the GSK-3β gene in the heart tissue and has a protective effect on the heart of diabetic rats.