Comparing the Effect of Continuous and Intermittent Exercise Training Regimens on soleus GLUT4, AMPK and Insulin Receptor in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: The impact of continuous and intermittent training on diabetes mellitus condition and its mechanism is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in glucose uptake after 6 weeks of continuous and intermittent exercise training protocols in healthy and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Method: Sixty male albino Wistar rats (13 weeks old) were randomly divided into six groups including healthy control, healthy continuous, healthy intermittent, diabetic control, diabetic continuous, and diabetic intermittent groups. Animals ran continuously and intermittently on treadmill for 6 weeks. They got diabetes using STZ (50 mg per kg of body weight). Results: STZ increased blood glucose levels and insulin resistance in diabetic rats. In contrast, STZ reduced insulin, insulin receptor (IR), glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), and 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) levels in diabetic rats. However, both continuous and intermittent exercise training protocols improved insulin resistance and prevented the reduction of GLUT4 and AMPK in diabetic rats. Neither of continuous and intermittent exercise trainings had any effect on insulin and IR receptor. Conclusions: Continuous and intermittent exercise trainings comparably reduce blood glucose and subsequently improve insulin resistance by increasing GLUT4 and AMPK independent of insulin and its receptors.