Effects of endurance exercise on ERK1/2 phosphorylation and expression in skeletal muscle of rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effects of exercise on phosphorylated and total ERK1/2, and mRNA of ERK2.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male rats were randomly divided into control and trained groups. The trained rats were submitted to 1 h or 1.5 h of exercise daily and had a fragment of their excised gastroenemius muscle, 24 h or 48 h after the last training session. The train lasted for 7 weeks. The changes in the expressions of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were determined by Western blotting.The expression of ERK2 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Exercise led to a marked increase in p-ERK1/2 of trained groups as compared with controls, and increased ERK1/2 protein expression of training 1.5 h/d, 24 h and 48 h after the last training session. ERK2 mRNA was increased by exercise 1 h/d, 24 h and exercise 1.5 h/d, 24 h and 48 h after the last training session. Glucose tolerance test found that blood insulin concentration was decreased with exercise training.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endurance exercise could increase muscle responsiveness to insulin by improving the total ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2, ERK2 mRNA expression.</p>