ABSTRACT
Background: Overexpression of lectin-like low density lipoprotein [LOX-1] receptor plays an important role in hyperglycemia-induced vascular complications such as atherosclerosis. Based on the beneficial effects of exercise on preventing cardiovascular complications of diabetes, we aimed to examine the protective effects of aerobic exercise on expression of LOX-1 receptor and produc on of free radicals inthe heart of diabetic rats
Methods: Four groups of rats were used: [n=5 per group]: sedentary normal, trained normal, sedentary diabetes and trained diabetes. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injec on of streptozotocin [50 mg/kg]. The exercise protocol was consisted of swimming 30 min/day, 5 days/week for eight weeks. Plasma glucose was evaluated at initiation, weeks 4 and 8 of experiment. At the end of experiment, rats were sacrificed and the heart was removed for determination of nitrate, malondialdehyde, and LOX-1 gene expression. In normal non-diabetic rats, the blood glucose level was <150 mg/dl; however, the induction of diabetes resulted in levels more than >400 mg/dl. Gene expression of LOX-1 was increased in the heart of diabetic rats. Exercise reduced the gene expression of this protein in diabetic states without reducing the blood glucose. Finally, swimming exercise decreased the malondialdehyde and nitrate levels in heart tissue both in control and diabetic rats
Conclusion: Swimming exercise reduces heart expression of the LOX-1 receptor in accompany with reduc on of free radicals production. Since these parameters are important in generation of diabetic complications, swimming exercise is a good candidate for reducing these complications
ABSTRACT
Objective: Bone marrow [BM] is one of the major hematopoietic organs in postnatal life that consists of a heterogeneous population of stem cells which have been previously described. Recently, a rare population of stem cells that are called very small embryonic-like [VSEL] stem cells has been found in the BM. These cells express several developmental markers of pluripotent stem cells and can be mobilized into peripheral blood [PB] in response to tissue injury. In this study we have attempted to investigate the ability of these cells to migrate toward an injured spinal cord after transplantation through the tail vein in a rat model
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, VSELs were isolated from total BM cells using a fluorescent activated cell sorting [FACS] system and sca1 and stage specific embryonic antigen [SSEA-1] antibodies. After isolation, VSELs were cultured for 7 days on C2C12 as the feeder layer. Then, VSELs were labeled with 1,1´-dioctadecyl-3,3,3´,3´- tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate [DiI] and transplanted into the rat spinal cord injury [SCI] model via the tail vein. Finally, we sought to determine the presence of VSELs in the lesion site
Results: We isolated a high number of VSELs from the BM. After cultivation, the VSELs colonies were positive for SSEA-1, Oct4 and Sca1. At one month after transplantation, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed a significantly increased expression level of Oct4 and SSEA-1 positive cells at the injury site
Conclusion: VSELs have the capability to migrate and localize in an injured spinal cord after transplantation