The Effect of Resistance Training and Endothelial Stem Cell Injection on Skeletal Muscle Oxidant and Antioxidant Status in STZ-Induced Diabetic Male Rats

Background: Because insulin therapy cannot properly control the progression of diabetes and its complications, other alternative therapies may be desirable. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance training and endothelial stem cell injection on skeletal muscle oxidant and antioxidant status in STZ-induced diabetic male rats. Method: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats (age 6 weeks) were divided into six groups of control (healthy), basal diabetic control, diabetic control, diabetes + stem cell injection, diabetes + resistance training and diabetes + stem cell injection + resistance training. In this study, rats became diabetic intraperitoneally using streptozotocin as a single dose of 40 mg/kg. Resistance exercises including climbing a one-meter ladder with weights hanging from the tail were performed for 17 sessions. 500,000 bone-derived stem cells were injected by a cell counter. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in skeletal muscle tissue of rat were measured by using the kit and ELISA method. Results: The results showed that the SOD level of rats in the resistance training and endothelial stem cell injection group was significantly higher than the diabetic control group (P<0.001). Also, the level of MDA rats in the resistance training and endothelial stem cell injection group was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Resistance training and endothelial stem cell injections can be considered as a non-pharmacological treatment to reduce skeletal muscle complications in type 1 diabetes.