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Updated: May 1, 2026

A Chronic High-Intensity Interval Training and Diet-Induced Obesity Model to Maximize Exercise Effort and Induce Physiologic Changes in Rats
Published on: April 28, 2023
Relation of the intense physical exercise and asprosin concentrations in type 2 diabetic rats
Muzaffer Katar1, Fikret Gevrek2
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkiye.
Aim:
Asprosin, a protein hormone, is released by unilocular adipocytes in reaction to low blood sugar. We aimed to examine how exercise affects asprosin hormone levels and associated organs, including the liver and pancreas, in diabetes.
Methods:
Twenty-one male Wistar albino rats were firstly allocated into two main groups: control (n = 7) and diabetes (n = 14). Then, the diabetes group was further separated into two subgroups: sedentary (n = 7) and exercise (n = 7). The exercise group participated in a swimming training regimen (30 min/daily, six weeks). Serum levels of asprosin and various other biochemical parameters were evaluated through commercial ELISA kits. The liver was analyzed histopathologically, and pancreatic islet cells were examined for Cas-3 immune expression.
Results:
Asprosin and total oxidant status decreased significantly in the exercise diabetic subgroup (p < 0.05). Glucose, insulin, creatinine, IL-6, and HomaIR concentrations decreased slightly with exercise (p > 0.05). Liver tissue injury scores and Cas-3 immune expression in pancreas islet cells decreased in exercise diabetic rats.
Conclusions:
Reducing asprosin may lower glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Physical activity decreases asprosin and total oxidative status, fostering anti-apoptosis and tissue healing in diabetes, potentially enhancing health. Monitoring asprosin levels offers insights into diabetes progression. Our findings imply that asprosin can be a therapeutic target for diabetes.

