RESUMO
Objective:To observe any effect of aerobic exercise on lipid deposition in the liver and monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (MGAT1) signaling in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 45% diet fat for 6 weeks, after which they were confirmed to have NAFLD. The rats were then randomly divided into an exercise group, a sedentary group and a diet adjustment group. The exercise and sedentary groups remained on the high-fat diet, but the exercise group underwent 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, while the diet adjustment group returned to a normal diet without any exercise. After the intervention, lipid accumulation in liver tissues was detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining and hepatic steatosis indices were calculated. Liver MGAT1 and the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) protein were detected using western blotting.Results:Liver steatosis indices in the exercise and the diet adjustment groups had decreased significantly after the eight weeks. The expression of MGAT1 protein had decreased significantly in the exercise group and the expression of PPARγ protein had increased significantly. Compared with the sedentary group, no significant changes were observed in the expression of MGAT1 protein in the livers of the diet adjustment group, though their average PPARγ protein expression had increased significantly. Compared with the diet adjustment group, the average liver steatosis index had increased significantly in the exercise group, but the expression of MGAT1 protein had decreased significantly.Conclusions:Aerobic exercise can significantly improve liver lipid deposition in NAFLD, at least in rats. The mechanism may be related to inhibition of the MGAT1 signal pathway. Aerobic exercise may be a rehabilitation intervention for NAFLD patients.