Modulation by exercise of glucose and protein metabolism in alloxan diabetic rats

Abstract

Exercise has been recommended in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its metabolic complications, but the mechanisms involved in this intervention are not fully understood. Researches using animal models offer great opportunity to a deeper comprehension about this issue. However, some results have been questioned due the lack of information about the effort intensity performed by the animal during exercise. This way, the present study was designed to analyse the effects of physical training performed at the anaerobic threshold (AT) intensity, on glucose and protein metabolism in skeletal muscle of alloxan diabetic rats. Wistar young rats will receive alloxan monohidrate Sigma (30 mg/Kg of body weight, i.v.). Rats injected with citrate buffer will be used as controls. Two weeks after drug administration, the animals will perform the lactate minimum test in order to identify the AT and, from this moment on, they will be submitted to swimming training 1h/day, 5 days/week, carriyng an overload equivalent to Lan, during 6 weeks. The in vivo evaluations include glucose tolerance and insulin sensibility. Forty eight hours after the last training session, the rats will be sacrificed for biological material collection to in vitro analysis in the soleus muscle: glucose uptake and oxidation, glycogen synthesis, lactate production, protein synthesis and degradation and celular sinalization of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway. (AU)