Evaluatting the effect of voluntary exercise and high fat diet on the level of miR-449a, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) expressions, apoptosis and stereological changes in testis in type 2 diabetic male rats

Abstract

Diabetes and high-fat diet can cause fertility disorders in diabetics. In this study, the effects of voluntary exercise and high-fat diet were evaluated on the level of miR-449a, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) expressions, apoptosis and stereological changes in testis in type 2 diabetic male rats. Materials and Methods: In this study, 96 male Wistar rats with weight range of 220-180 g were divided randomly to 8 groups (n-12 each group). as follow: Control (C), high fat diet (HFD), Diabetes (D), voluntary exercise (VE), high fat diet and voluntary exercise (HFD+VE), Diabetes and voluntary exercise (D+VE), Diabetes and high fat diet (D+HFD) and Diabetes and high fat diet and voluntary exercise (D+HFD+VE). Type 2 diabetes was induced in the diabetic groups by high-fat diet for 5 weeks and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). Voluntary exercise was performed for 10 weeks in a special cage with a rotating wheel. Finally, the level of miR-449a, TNF-α and IL-6 expressions, apoptosis and stereological changes were measured.

Results: High-fat diet and diabetes in HFD and diabetes groups caused lower testicular miR-449a level, stereological changes and increased TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expressions and apoptosis (p<0.001). Voluntary exercise in D and HFD+VE groups increased the expression of miR-449a, reduced TNF-α and IL-6 expressions, apoptosis and improved changes in stereological parameters in the testes Tissue (p<0.001). High-fat diet and diabetes in D and D+HFD groups decreased testicular miR-449a level, stereological changes and elevated TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expressions and apoptosis (p<0.001). Voluntary exercise in D+HFD+VE and D+ VE groups decreased testicular TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expressions, apoptosis and stereological improvement (p<0.001)