Effect of exercise training on gene expression of adiponectin and its receptors in testicles and sex hormones in diabetic rats

Adiponectin receptor 1 could explain the sex differences in molecular basis of cognitive improvements induced by exercise training in type 2 diabetic rats

Adipokines dysregulation, the main reason for cognitive impairments (CI) induced by diabetes, shows a sex-dependent pattern inherently and in response to exercise. This study aimed to compare the attenuating effect of 8-week high intensity-interval training (HIIT) on type 2 diabetes (T2D)-induced CI between male and female rats with a special focus on adiponectin and leptin. 28 male & 28 female Wistar rats with an average age of 8 weeks were randomly assigned into four groups: control (Con), exercise (EX), Diabetes (T2D), and Type 2 diabetes + exercise (T2D + Ex). Rats in EX and T2D + EX groups performed HIIT for eight weeks (80-100% Vmax, 4-10 intervals). T2D was induced by 2 months of a high-fat diet and a single dose of STZ (35 mg/kg) administration. Leptin and adiponectin levels in serum were measured along with hippocampal expression of leptin and adiponectin receptors, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), dephosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (Dep-GSK3β), Tau, and beta-amyloid (Aβ). Homeostasis model assessments (HOMAs) and quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI) indices were calculated. Our results showed that following T2D, serum levels of APN, and hippocampal levels of adiponectin receptor 1 (APNR1) were higher and HOMA-IR was lower in female than male rats (P < 0.05). However, after 8 weeks of HIIT, hippocampal levels of APNR1 and AMPK as well as QUICKI were lower and hippocampal levels of GSK, Tau, and Aβ were higher in females compared to male rats (P < 0.05). While the risk of CI following T2D was more in male than female rats HIIT showed a more ameliorating effect in male animals with APN1 as the main player.

The effect of resistance training on serum levels of sex hormones and sperm quality in male rats under X-ray radiation

OBJECTIVES

The present study aims to investigate the effects of resistance training on sex hormones and sperm parameters in male rats under X-ray.

METHODS

In this experimental study, 24 Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g) were randomly assigned into four groups: healthy control, irradiated control, healthy training and irradiated training. Irradiation was induced at a dose of 4 Gy on the whole body. The resistance training protocol was performed for 10 weeks. Finally, blood serum was used to assess FSH, LH and testosterone and sperm quality. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test.

RESULTS

The results showed that radiation significantly reduced serum levels of LH (p=0.42), FSH (p=0.001) and testosterone (p=0.28) between radiation control and healthy control groups. Also, no significant difference was observed between serum levels of LH (p=0.135) and testosterone (p=0.419) in radiation resistance training and the healthy control groups. In addition, significant differences were observed between radiation resistance training and radiation control groups in sperm parameters such as sperm count (p=0.02) and progressively motile sperm (p=0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that short-term resistance training can improve sperm parameters, including sperm count and sperm motility through increasing serum levels testosterone and LH in male rat under X-ray.