Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under CC BY-NC 4.0 license
Authors
1 Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Payame Noor University, Karaj Center.
2 Corresponding Author, Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Type-1 diabetes is associated with the weakness of the body's antioxidant defense and also affects skeletal muscles. This research aimed to investigate the interaction of Berberine supplementation with aerobic exercise on Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX), and also the Caspase-3 gene expression in quadriceps muscle tissue of type-1 diabetic rats.
Methods: 35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: 1) healthy control, 2) diabetic control, 3) Berberine supplement, 4) aerobic exercise and 5) Aerobic exercise + Berberine supplement. After ensuring the induction of diabetes by STZ in the treatment groups, moderate intensity aerobic exercise was performed for six weeks with a frequency of five sessions per week according to the schedule. Berberine supplementation with a dose of 50 mg/kg was implemented by gavage on all days of the week and half an hour before exercise.
Results: The MDA and SOD levels in Berberine + aerobic exercise group significantly decreased (P<0.0019) and increased (P<0.0063), respectively compared to other groups. The level of GPX in the Berberine + aerobic exercise group had a significant increase compared to the diabetes control and aerobic exercise groups (P<0.0005 and P<0.001, respectively). Also, there was a significant increase in GPX level in the Berberine supplement group compared to the diabetes control group (P<0.0017), however, there was no significant difference between the group of Berberine + aerobic exercise and Berberine supplement (P=0.132). The Caspase-3 gene expression in Berberine + aerobic exercise group had a significant decrease compared to diabetes control and aerobic exercise groups (P<0.0001 and P<0.001, respectively). This variable also had a significant decrease in the Berberine supplement group compared to the diabetes control group (P<0.0005).
Conclusion: It seems that the simultaneous intervention of Berberine supplementation and aerobic exercise has positive synergistic effects and plays an important role in reducing MDA, caspase-3 gene expression, and increasing SOD and GPX in the quadriceps muscle of type-1 diabetic rats.
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