The effect of a heavy exercise program on the distribution of pancreatic hormones in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.
BACKGROUND
Exercise training has long been utilized as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in the management of diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
The effects of a heavy exercise training program on the distribution of insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide in pancreatic islet cells of diabetic rats was investigated.


METHODS
Forty male Wistar rats.


METHODS
The animals were divided into 4 groups: control sedentary, diabetic sedentary, control heavy exercise, and diabetic heavy exercise.


METHODS
Diabetes was induced with a single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg i.p.). The exercise program included five 60-min sessions per week, speed 18 m/min with a running belt at a 5% incline and began 1 week after the streptozotocin treatment and continued for 12 weeks.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was used to label insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide in islet cells.


RESULTS
The percentage of insulin-positive cells was significantly lower in islets from diabetic rats (24.2+/-2.3%) as compared to the controls (87.5+/-2.0%). The percentage of glucagon-positive cells was significantly higher in islets from diabetic rats (44.0+/-1.7%) as compared to the controls (34.7+/-2.1%). The percentage of pancreatic polypeptide-positive cells was also significantly higher in islets from diabetic rats (20.8+/-1.6%) as compared to the controls (12.7+/-1.8%). The percentage of somatostatin-positive cells was not significantly altered in islets from diabetic rats (28.2+/-2.0%) as compared to the controls (21.9+/-2.7%). Heavy exercise did not significantly alter insulin, glucagon, pancreatic peptide or somatostatin labeling in either diabetic or control rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations in the distribution of pancreatic hormones in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, a model of type 1 diabetes, are not improved with heavy exercise.
Howarth
Frank Christopher
FC
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. chris.howarth@uaeu.ac.ae
Marzouqi
Farida Mohammed Abdulla
FM
Al Saeedi
Amal Mohammed Salem
AM
Hameed
Rasheed Shaul
RS
Adeghate
Ernest
E
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010187:Pancreatic Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D010187:Pancreatic Hormones; D013311:Streptozocin