The effect of regular training on plasma cytokines response in healthy and diabetic rats

To evaluate the effect of regular swimming exercise on plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and of IL-6 cytokines in healthy and diabetic rats.

In this study, carried out from March 2008 to March 2009 in the Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz, Iran, 40 Wistar rats (250-300 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10): control-sedentary, control-exercised, diabetic-sedentary, and diabetic-exercised. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). The exercise protocol consisted of swimming (one hour/day, and 5 days/week) for 8 weeks. The plasma cytokines were measured by using specific kits and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

The findings of this study showed that the mean difference of IL-6 was significant among the groups, and that regular swimming increased the plasma levels of IL-6 to 9-times in healthy rats and to 23-times in diabetic ones (p=0.000, F (3,31)=54.79). However, there were no significant differences in IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha levels among the groups.

According to findings of this study, regular exercise causes an increase in plasma levels of IL-6, and this enhancement is much higher in diabetics rather than healthy rats. Thus, by increasing direct absorption of blood glucose by skeletal muscle, IL-6 can have a beneficial role in continuing the activities of diabetic patients.