Crocin and voluntary exercise promote heart angiogenesis through Akt and ERK1/2 signalling in type 2 diabetic rats

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of crocin and voluntary exercise on heart angiogenesis through Akt and ERK1/2 signalling. METHODS: Animals were divided into 4 groups as follows: diabetes (Dia), diabetic-crocin (Dia-Cro), diabeticvoluntary exercise (Dia-Exe), diabetic-crocin-voluntary exercise (Dia-Cro-Exe). Type 2 diabetes was induced by high-fat diet (4 weeks) and injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (i.p., 35 mg/kg). Animals received crocin orally (50 mg/kg), voluntary exercise was performed alone or together with crocin for 8 weeks. Akt and ERK1/2 levels were measured by ELISA and CD31 was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Akt and ERK1/2 levels in crocin and exercise groups were significantly higher than in diabetic group. Levels of Akt and ERK1/2 proteins and CD31 immunostaining were also significantly higher in crocin-voluntary exercise group in comparison to the other groups. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that treatments with crocin and voluntary exercise had synergistic effect on angiogenesis. Protective effects of these interventions are probably through the activation of Akt and ERK 1/2 signalling pathways in the heart of diabetic rats.