ABSTRACT
Background: Reactive oxygen species have an important role in the development of diabetes and its complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of resistance training on oxidative stress in heart of diabetic rats
Material and methods: In an experimental study, 24 Wistar rats divided into two groups, 1. Resistance training [n = 12], and 2. Control group [n = 12]. Induction of diabetes was done by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin [STZ] at a dose of 50 mg/kg dissolved in phosphate buffer [pH, 4.5]. The training protocol consisted of 1 set of 10 climbing with the weight attached to the base of the tail, three times per week and for 8 weeks. Forty eight hours after last training session, animals were anesthetized blood was taken directly from the heart and then the heart removed and left ventricles were isolated and used for biochemical assessments. All the statistical analysis was done by SPSS software version 16. Level of significance was set at ?<0.05
Results: Resistance training group showed significant decrease in MDA and PC of hearts compared to control group [p=0.02 and p=0.03, respectively]. Total glutathione content of the heart in the resistance training group were significantly higher [p<0.001]. Also, resistance training caused to a significant reduction in blood glucose [p=0.001]. Blood insulin levels were not different between groups, [p=0.931]
Conclusion: Finally, it appears that resistance training may reduce blood glucose and oxidative stress of heart and may increase total glutathione content of the heart. Observed reduction in oxidative stress and increased glutathione content, considering the antioxidant and protective properties of glutathione, suggests that these positive changes caused by resistance training may have protective role against development of cardiovascular complications in diabetes