THE EFFECT OF 12 WEEKS OF MODERATE INTENSITY CONTINUOUS TRAINING (MICT) ON INFLAMMATORY AND ANGIOGENESIS FACTORS OF VISCERAL AND SUBCUTANEOUS ADIPOSE TISSUE IN OBESE RATS: A SEMI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Background & Aims: Physical activity by modulating angiogenesis in adipose tissue, effects on the entire body metabolic profile. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of moderate intensity continuous training on VEGF, PEDF and PAI-1 of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese rats. Materials & Methods: 15 male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups of high fat diet (n= 10) and rat fed with standard food (n=5). After 12 weeks, the high-fat diet group again divided into 2 MICT and control high-fat diet groups. The training program was performed for 12 weeks, 5 sessions per week, with a speed of 60-50% of maximum speed. VEGF, PEDF and PAI-1 levels of subcutaneous and visceral fat were measured by ELISA method. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and one-way ANOVA (P≤0.05). Results: 12 weeks of high-fat diet significantly increased and 12 weeks of MICT significantly decreased the weight of the rats. The levels of subcutaneous and visceral fat VEGF in the MICT group were significantly higher than the control high-fat diet group (P= 0.008). PEDF values of subcutaneous fat (P= 0.001) and PAI-1 values of visceral fat (P= 0.002) in the MICT group were significantly lower than the control high-fat diet group. Conclusion: Moderate-intensity continuous training improves the angiogenesis disorders due to adipose tissue hypertrophy; especially visceral adipose tissue that secretes inflammatory factors. This action has a significant role in controlling the metabolic disorder of obesity.