EFFECTS OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS INDUCTION AND OF MODERATE PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON THE HEPATIC METABOLISM AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN WISTAR RATS

Abstract

AIMS: The aim of the study was to verify if the induction of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) by the association of streptozotocin and high fat diet causes hepatic alterations and if physical exercise can improve these alterations.  METHODS: Forty-six Wistar rats were divided into two groups. One group received a diet containing 60% of fat for 9 weeks and on the 14th day they were injected with a single dose of streptozotocin (25mg/kg). The other group, named control group, received a standard diet and a single dose of citrate buffer was given. Animals were them divided into two subgroups: one sedentary (S) and the other submitted to physical exercise (PE), totalizing four groups: C-S; C-PE; HF-S; HF-PE. After euthanasia blood and liver were collected. Plasma and hepatic concentrations of triacylglycerol and very low density lipoprotein; enzyme alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and arginase; urea, lactate and 8-isoprostane (an oxidative stress marker) were dosed. RESULTS: Capillary glucose was significantly higher in HF-S and HF-PE group animals compared to C-S and C-PE groups. There were no significant differences in alanine transaminase, arginase, oxidative stress and lactate concentration among the groups. Plasma urea concentration and hepatic aspartate transaminase concentration was lower in HF-S and HF-PE than in C-PE. Concerning liver triacylglycerol and very low density lipoproteins, both were higher in the HF-PE group when compared to the C-S. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that diet was decisive for the aforementioned parameters alterations and that physical exercise protocol was not efficient to improve analyzed parameters.