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. 2024 Mar 14;60(3):480.
doi: 10.3390/medicina60030480.

Exercise May Increase Oxidative Stress in the Sciatic Nerve in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Koji Nonaka  1 , Junichi Akiyama  2 , Satsuki Une  3
Affiliations

Exercise May Increase Oxidative Stress in the Sciatic Nerve in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Koji Nonaka et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects approximately half of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), contributing to falls and fractures. Oxidative stress, which is linked to DM-induced hyperglycemia, has been implicated in the onset of DPN. Although exercise is recommended for patients with DM, its effect on DPN remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise on DPN and the mechanisms involved. Material and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into control, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic (DM), and STZ-induced diabetic/exercise (DM + Ex) groups. Diabetes was induced using STZ injection. Rats in the DM + Ex groups underwent six weeks of treadmill exercise. Sciatic nerve parameters, which included motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase [GPx], and superoxide dismutase [SOD]), oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA] and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal [4HNE]), and neurotrophic factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and nerve growth factor [NGF]), were examined. Results: Exercise alleviated DM-induced decreases in MNCV in rats. Although exercise did not significantly affect antioxidant enzyme activity, 4HNE levels increased significantly, indicating increased oxidative stress. Additionally, exercise did not significantly affect DM-induced increases in NGF and BDNF levels in rats. Conclusions: Exercise may prevent DPN in rats with DM, possibly through nonantioxidant mechanisms.

Keywords: antioxidant enzymes; diabetes mellitus; exercise; neurotrophic factors; oxidative stress; peripheral neuropathy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in blood glucose concentration in rats in the control (Cont), diabetes (DM), and diabetes/exercise (DM ± Ex) groups. Values are presented as mean ± standard error. *** p < 0.001 vs. the Cont group, and † p < 0.05 and ††† p < 0.001 vs. the DM group at each time point.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in the body weight of rats in the control (Cont), diabetes (DM), and diabetes/exercise (DM ± Ex) groups. Data are presented as mean ± standard error. *** p < 0.001 vs. the Cont group, and † p < 0.05 and ††† p < 0.001 vs. the DM group at each time point.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE) levels in the sciatic nerves of the rats with diabetes, as indicated by Western blotting. MDA levels in the sciatic nerves of the rats in the control (Cont; n = 10), diabetes (DM; n = 9), and diabetes/exercise (DM ± Ex; n = 8) groups are shown in (a), and the mean ± standard error and the effect size d between the DM group and the Cont and DM ± Ex groups are shown in (c). 4HNE concentrations in the sciatic nerves of the rats in the three groups are shown in (b), and the mean ± standard error and the effect size d between the DM group and the Cont and DM ± Ex groups are shown in (d). * p < 0.05 and ** p < 0.01 vs. the DM group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the sciatic nerves of rats with diabetes, as indicated by Western blotting. NGF protein expression in the sciatic nerves of rats in the control (Cont; n = 10), diabetes (DM; n = 9), and diabetes/exercise (DM ± Ex; n = 8) groups is shown in (a), and the mean ± standard error and the effect size d between the DM group and the Cont and DM ± Ex groups are shown in (c). BDNF protein expression in the sciatic nerves of rats in the three groups is shown in (b), and the mean ± standard error and the effect size d between the DM group and the Cont and DM ± Ex groups are shown in (d). ** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001 vs. the DM group.
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