title: Low-intensity running exercise enhances the capillary volume and pro-angiogenic factors in the soleus muscle of type 2 diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We determined the effects of low-intensity exercise on the three-dimensional capillary structure and associated angiogenic factors in the soleus muscle of Goto-Kakizaki (GK) diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of male rats were studied: sedentary nondiabetic (Con), exercised nondiabetic control (Ex), sedentary GK, and exercised GK (GK+Ex). Rats in the Ex and GK+Ex groups were subjected to chronic low-intensity running on a treadmill (15 m/min, 60 min/session, 5 sessions/week for 3 weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although mean capillary volume and diameter were lower in the GK compared with all other groups, low-intensity exercise increased both of these measures in GK rats. Mitochondrial markers, i.e., SDH activity and PGC-1α expression, and the levels of angiogenic factors were higher in the GK+Ex than all other groups. Exercise increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels and the VEGF-to-TSP-1 ratio, an indicator of angiogenesis, in GK rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined, the results indicate that low-intensity exercise reduces some of the microcirculatory complications in type 2 diabetic muscles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nagoya Women's University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanazashi
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nagatomo
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Roland R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins
keywords: angiogenic signalings; diabetes complications; exercise; microvascular disease; muscle 3D capillary architecture