Context: Exercise training programs have been shown to have prophylactic effects on diabetic associated complications in murine models.
Objective: The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of moderate exercise training for 4 weeks and detraining for 2 weeks on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in type 1 diabetic rat model.
Methods: Type 1 diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptzotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg), exercise training lasted for 4 weeks in trained group, while the detrained group stopped training for 2 weeks after training for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, tail flick test latency (TFL), body weight, serum glucose, inflammatory markers, and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were measured, the same was done in detrained diabetic rats after 2 weeks of detraining.
Results: Moderate exercise training for 4 weeks increased significantly TFL and NGF levels, while the inflammatory markers were significantly improved compared to diabetic sedentary rats. Interestingly, the prophylactic effects of exercise training were maintained in the detrained rats after 2 weeks of detraining.
Conclusion: Our results explore the prophylactic mechanisms underlying the exercise training in DPN rat model, and give further insights into the maintained prophylactic effects that lasted after 2 weeks of detraining.