RESUMO
Abstract Increased apoptosis in the pancreas and beta cell death causes reduced insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise training and testosterone administration on apoptosis marker (p53 protein) in the pancreas tissue in animal with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was induced by high fat diet and injection of low dose STZ (35mg/kg; ip). After 2 months of treatment with testosterone (2mg/kg/day) or voluntary exercise alone or in combination, apoptosis (tunnel assay) and p53 protein (ELISA method) were measured. Testosterone and exercise decreased the blood glucose, HbA1c levels, HOMA-IR, p53 protein expression and increased insulin level in treated diabetic and diabetic castrated groups. Simultaneous treatment of these groups with testosterone together voluntary exercise had an additive effect on reducing p53 expression, blood glucose, HbA1c levels, HOMA-IR and subsequently decreasing apoptosis. Our results suggest that the apoptosis decreasing effect of testosterone and voluntary exercise is associated with the reduced levels of blood glucose, HbA1c and HOMA-IR that subsequently decreased the expression of p53 level.