Swimming training by affecting the pancreatic Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and oxidative stress, improves insulin sensitivity in diabetic male rats

Sirtuin1 is a regulator of oxidative stress involved in the management of diabetes complications.
Due to the beneficial effects of swimming training in diabetes, this study aimed to investigate the effects of
swimming training on pancreatic Sirtuin1, oxidative stress and metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetic male
rats.
Materials and methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were randomly divided into four groups:
control, diabetic, swim trained and swim trained diabetic rats (n = 7). Diabetes was induced by a high-fat diet
and streptozotocin injection [35/kg intraperitoneally ]. After 72 hours, animals with blood glucose levels ≥300
mg/dL were considered diabetic. Seven days after the induction of diabetes, animals in the exercise groups
were subjected to swimming training (60 min/daily, 5 days/week) for 12 weeks. At the end of the interven-
tion, the animals were anesthetized, and tissue/blood samples were prepared for measurements of metabolic
parameters, albumin, the Sitruin1 gene and its protein expression levels, oxidative stress and histological study.
Results: This study indicated that the diabetic rats had a significant decrease (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) in pancreatic
Sitruin1 gene and its protein expression levels, antioxidant enzymes, serum albumin, and the quantitative in-
sulin sensitivity check index, but a significant increase (p < 0.01) in malondialdehyde level. Swimming training
resulted in a considerable improvement (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) in pancreatic Sitruin1 gene and its protein expres-
sion levels, antioxidant enzymes, serum levels of albumin and metabolic parameters. In addition, histological
findings indicated the beta-cells conservation.
Conclusions: This study suggested that pancreatic Sitruin1 may be a promising therapeutic target for diabetic
complications