Effects of Eight Weeks of Resistance Training on Muscle Myostatin Gene Expression and Insulin Resistance in Male Wistar Rats with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Muscular atrophy is one of the indicators of uncontrolled diabetes. The aim of the current study was to investigate effects of eight weeks of resistance training (RT) on myostatin gene expression in soleus muscles and insulin resistance in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In general, 14 Wistar male rats weighing 200-250 g and aging 8-10 weeks were selected for the study. Then, a newly prepared diabetic STZ solution was intraperitoneally injected to the rats. Animals were randomly divided into two groups of controls and resistance training diabetes. The resistance training protocol was carried out at ten repetitions as climbing up the ladder with 100% of the body weight for eight weeks, five days a week. Nearly 48 h after the last training session, soleus muscles of the rats were removed and the myostatin gene expression was assessed. Statistical data analysis was carried out using independent t-test at a significance level o