The Impact Of Exercise Training On Diabetic Neuropathy In Rats

Objective:To explore the effect of exercise on caudal nerve conduction velocity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Method:Twenty-one diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 55mg/kg) were randomly divided into diabetic group A with exercise for 8 weeks, diabetic group B with exercise for 4 weeks and diabetic control group C without exercise. Seventeen of diabetic rats were survival to the end of experiment, which were distributed respectively in group A (n=6), group B (B, n=6) and group C (n=5). Twelve SD rats with euglycemia were randomly divided to normal control group (n=6) and normal exercise group (n=6). The exercise rats were forced to swim 60min/d with 5d/w. Body weights, blood glucose and caudal nerve conduction velocity in all rats were evaluated at the points of baseline, 4th week and 8th week.Results:Blood glucose in diabetic rats were higher than that in rats with euglycemia (p<0.05). Blood glucose in group A decreased significantly after 8 weeks exercise in comparison with baseline (p<0.05). The CNCV were significantly lower in all diabetic groups than that in groups with euglycemia and were significantly higher in group A than those in groups with B and C at 4th week. The CNCV in groups with A and B increased significantly to normal levels of groups with euglycemia at 8th week. The CNCV in group C at 8th week decreased significantly in comparison with baseline (p<0.05). The CNCV in groups D and E at 8th week increased significantly in comparison with baseline. Conclusion:Exercise training may prevent and treat the diabetic neuropathy. To explore the effect of swimming exercise on the expression of NT-3(Neurotrophin-3) in skeletal muscle in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Method:Sixteen diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 55mg/kg) were randomly divided into diabetic group A with exercise for 8 weeks(A,n=5), diabetic group B with exercise for 4 weeks(B,n=5) and diabetic control group C without exercise(C,n=5). Twelve SD rats with euglycemia were randomly divided to normal control group (n=6) and normal exercise group (n=6). The exercise rats were forced to swim 60min/d with 5d/w. The NT-3 in skeletal muscle were measured by ELISA method.Results:NT-3 in group C were lower than that in A,D,E groups(p<0.05). There have no statistical significance between group B and C(p=0.051).The CNCV in groups with A and B increased significantly to normal levels of groups with euglycemia at 8th week. The CNCV were strongly correlated with NT-3(r=0.405,P<0.05).Conclusion:The increase of NT-3 expression in skeletal muscle could be partially due to the improvement of diabetic neuropathy following exercise.