The effect of high intensity interval training on SIRT1 and PGC1-α gene expression in soleus muscle of type 2 diabetes in male rat

Background: High expression of SIRT1 genes increases the expression of PGC1-α, which stimulates expression of GLUT4 glucose carrier in skeletal muscle. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 8- week of HIIT training on the expression of SIRT1 and PGC1-α in male rats with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The research method was experimental. sixty male Wistar rats, with average weight of 250 ± 20 g, after induction of diabetes by injection of Nicotinic Amide- Streptozotocin, were randomly divided into 5 groups: Base-line control (n=12), HIIT Control (n=12), HIIT (n=12), Diabetic Control (n=12), HIIT Diabetic (n=12). The training groups performed the HIIT on a treadmill for 8- week and 5 days a week, which speeded from 16 meters per minute to the end of the eighth week to 38 meters per minute. Twenty four hours after the last training session, the rats were anesthetized. Then, soleus muscle tissue was immediately extracted, and the level of SIRT1 and PGC1-α gene expression was measured by Real Time-PCR and scale .

Results: Statistical analysis of two-way ANOVA showed that the mean PGC1-α and SIRT1 indices were significantly different between the two control groups and the untrained diabetic group. Also, HIIT exercise had a significant effect on PGC1-α and SIRT1 genes (P<0.05).

Conclusion: HIIT exercises lead to increased expression of GLUT4 and, consequently, insulin sensitivity. So, diabetic patients seem to have improved their health and muscle levels by employing HIIT training for at least 8- week in order to increase SIRT1 and PGC1-α.