ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase--protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway in the pro- tective effect of aerobic endurance training on the skeletal muscular mitochondria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into three groups( n = 12): control group, aerobic endurance training group and one-time exhaustive group. After the intervention, the quadriceps femoris muscle sample was obtained to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential( MMP), the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and cy- tochrome coxidase (COX), and the protein levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome coxidase, and the protein levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt were all significantly decreased in the one-time exhaustive group (P < 0.05). However, all the above was partially reversed in the endurance training group (P < 0.05), and there was no obvious difference with the control group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Aerobic endurance training plays an important role in the protective effect on the skeletal muscular mitochondria, the mechanism may be related to activation PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.</p>