Effects of Endurance Exercise Training on Kinesin - 5 and Dynein Motor Proteins in Sciatic Nerves of Male Wistar Rats with Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

Objectives:  Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve disorders caused by diabetes which leads to disruptions of axonal transports and exercise can result in its improvement. However, mechanisms and the impact of exercise in these disruptions are not fully understood. So, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of endurance exercise on contents of Kinesin - 5 and Dynein motor proteins in sciatic nerves of male Wistar rats with diabetic neuropathy. Methods:  A number of Twenty - four male Wistar rats were randomly placed in four groups of six each: diabetes control, diabetes exercise, healthy control, and healthy exercise. Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 45 mg/Kg) was used for induction of diabetes. Moderate - endurance exercise protocol was performed for 6 weeks, two weeks after injection of STZ and diabetic neuropathy was proven by mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia tests. 24 hours after the last training session, the rats were dissected and their sciatic nerves were extracted. The contents of Kinesin - 5 and Dynein motor proteins were examined with enzymatic method (ELISA). Results:  Moderate - endurance exercise significantly improves mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in rats. A significant correlation was observed between mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia with resting levels of blood glucose (r = 0.68, p = 0.001, r = 0.82, p = 0.001, respectively). A significant increase was observed in contents of Kinesin - 5 and Dynein motor proteins in diabetes control compared with healthy control and diabetes exercise groups (p < 0.05). A significant increase was obtained in contents of Kinesin - 5 and Dynein motor proteins in healthy exercise group compared to healthy control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions:  The results demonstrate that one of the possible factors involved in axonal transport dysfunction in diabetic neuropathy can be STZ induced upregulation of Kinesin - 5 and Dynein motor proteins in diabetic rats. Endurance exercise as a non - medication strategy can moderate the increase.