title: Attenuation of phosphorylated connexin-43 protein levels in diabetic rat heart by regular moderate exercise.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High blood glucose levels increase the ratio of phosphorylated to non-phosphorylated connexin-43 amounts, which leads to the decomposition of the hyperphosphorylated connexin-43. This can cause heart arrhythmia in diabetic patients. Considering the effective role of exercise in diabetic patients, and because there are few studies regarding the effect of exercise on phosphorylated connexin-43 protein levels, in the present study the impact of different periods of moderate regular exercise on phosphorylated Connexion-43 levels were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty (60) male Wistar rats (300 ± 50 g) were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10). A week after induction of diabetes by injection of streptozotocin, one hour treadmill exercise, 5 days a week with 22 (m/min) speeds was undertaken. Left ventricles of hearts were isolated and immediately frozen. Finally, phosphorylated connexin-43 protein levels were measured by ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The means of blood glucose levels were significantly decreased (P < 0/05) by increasing days of exercise. The means of blood glucose levels were significantly decreased (P < 0/05) by increasing days of exercise. Regular moderate exercise reduced the connexin-43 levels by increasing days of exercise (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that regular moderate exercise reduces the amount of phosphorylated connexin-43 protein levels in the ventricular myocardium, by reducing blood glucose levels. This can result in partial inhibition of cardiac arrhythmia observed in diabetic patients. This research was done in Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. FSheikhzadeh@tabrizu.ac.ir.
authors: Farzam Sheikhzadeh
authors: FS
authors: Hesari
authors: 1)Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran 2)Department of Biology, Faculty of basic Sciences, Rab- Rashid Higher Education institute, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Nazli
authors: N
authors: Khajehnasiri
authors: Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Seyed Mahdi Banan
authors: SM
authors: Khojasteh
authors: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar-Abbas, Iran.
authors: Farhad Ghadiri
authors: FG
authors: Soufi
authors: Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Dastranj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D018031:Connexin 43; C580592:Gja1 protein, rat