Volume 31, Issue 1 (3-2024)
RJMS 2024, 31(1): 1-14 |
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Research code: LU. ECRA. 2018.16
Ethics code: LU. ECRA. 2018.16
Clinical trials code: LU. ECRA. 2018.16
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Azari N, Rahmati M, Mirnasouri R. The Effect of Endurance Training and Consumption of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Urtica Dioica on the Number of Gastrocnemius Muscle Nuclei in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats. RJMS 2024; 31 (1) :1-14
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-8164-en.html
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-8164-en.html
Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran , rahmati.mas@lu.ac.ir
Abstract: (530 Views)
Background & Aims: The largest organelle and signaling center of the cell is the nucleus that contains the majority of genetic material. Notably, the nucleus houses chromatin, the complex of DNA with histones and structural proteins (lamins and other nucleoskeletal proteins) that help to establish nuclear shape and mechanics (6), also plays a central role in protein synthesis via ribosome synthesis and mRNA supply (7). Cellular function is closely related to the abundance of organelles, which grow in number or size to accommodate for the greater functional needs as cellular size increases. It is believed that the high number of nuclei is necessary due to the vast cytoplasmic volume and long transport distances. Thus, both a sufficient number of nuclei and optimal positioning of the nuclei are important (10). Diabetes is a chronic disease in which blood glucose, also referred to as blood sugar, becomes too high (1). Studies have shown that the diabetic environment enhances protein degradation (3), causes skeletal muscle atrophy and loss of myonuclei (4). Studies on diabetic patients show that the complementary treatments used in this disease include diets and lifestyle changes, the use of herbal medicines containing anti-diabetic agents, and exercise (11). One of these herbal supplements that has anti-glycemic and anti-lipid effects is the nettle plant with the scientific name of Urtica dioica (15). U. dioica is well documented to possess phyto-constituents like steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids specially quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and rutin, phenolics i.e. phenylpropanes, scopoletin, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, coumarins, polysaccharides, proteins, lectins, vitamins and minerals (17). Nettle’s consumption could have an effective role in type 2 diabetes by several mechanisms such as increasing glucose uptake by skeletal muscles and adipose tissues and its anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, the use of U. dioica as an antioxidant can be an effective approach to control diabetes and reduce related complications (19). In general, no precedents were found regarding the effect of medicinal plants on the number of myonuclei. In addition, studies that have specifically reported an increase or decrease in the number of myonuclei following exercise in diabetic samples were not found. Humans and animal species are exposed to various stimuli on a daily basis, and under these conditions, the function of various cellular organelles is disrupted. Considering the importance of the role of the nucleus in the cell, the present study aims to examine the question of whether performing 6 weeks of endurance training and consumption of hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica dioica has an effect on the number of Gastrocnemius muscle nuclei in STZ-induced diabetic rats?
Methods: This experimental study was performed on six-week-old male Wistar rats (age 6 weeks) and (weight 250±30 grams). Before starting the experiment, all animals were maintained at the new environmental condition for a period of one week. 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: healthy-control (H-C), diabetes-control (D-C), diabetes-exercise (D-Ex), diabetes-Urtica dioica (D-Ud), diabetes-Urtica dioica-exercise (D-Ud-Ex). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (45mg/kg), and 48 hours after injection, BG levels above 300 mg/dl were the criteria for confirmation of diabetes. Then, endurance exercise protocol with moderate-intensity (5days/week) was performed for six weeks. The speed and duration of the treadmill exercise were gradually increased from 10 m/min for 10 minutes in the first week to 10 m/min for 20 minutes in the second week, 14–15 m/min for 20 minutes in the third week, 14–15 m/min for 30 minutes in the fourth week, and 17–18 m/min for 30 minutes for the fifth and sixth weeks. To achieve adaptation in training, the intensity (speed and time) of treadmill exercise was kept constant during the sixth week (22, 23). The UD extract was prepared with 70% ethanol and 30% water. After preparing the extract, the antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated using stable DPPH radicals. Daily gavage of hydro-alcoholic extract of UD was performed at 50 mg/kg for six weeks (22). Two days after the last training session, the animals were anesthetized by isoflurane inhalation and the muscle tissue of the gastrocnemius muscle was extracted for immunohistochemical analysis. For this purpose, first, muscle slices with a thickness of 5 micrometers were prepared and then laminin primary antibody was used to stain the membrane of muscle fibers. Also, CY3 was used as secondary antibody. Finally, DAPI was used to stain the nuclei. The myonuclei whose center of gravity was located inside the cell were counted, and the nuclei whose center of gravity was located on the muscle fiber membrane were not counted. All analyzes was performed using MyoView software (24). Shapiro-Wilk test was used to ensure the normal distribution of variables. Also, the Brown-Forsythe test was used to check the homogeneity of the variance of the groups. Significance level was considered P<0.05 in all cases. One-way ANOVA statistical test and Graph Pad Prism software (version 9) were used for data analysis.
Results: The results of the present study showed that diabetes decreased the number of myonuclei (P=0.0198) and consumption of Urtica dioica extract (P=0.0075) and six weeks of endurance exercise (P<0.0001) each alone and in combination together (P<0.0001) has been associated with an increase in the number of myonuclei.
Conclusion: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 6 weeks of endurance training and consumption of hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica dioica on the number of Gastrocnemius muscle nuclei in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The findings showed that diabetes was associated with a decrease in the number of myonuclei and an increase in blood glucose in diabetic rats. Also, the consumption of Urtica dioica hydroalcoholic extract and performing endurance exercise and the interaction of the two could increase the number of myonuclei and decrease blood glucose in diabetic rats. Hyperglycemia, one of the key features of diabetes, plays an essential role in developing several diabetes complications (25), including diabetic myopathy (26). General mechanisms of hyperglycemia-mediated pathophysiological complications and organ dysfunction include increased oxidative stress, progress polyol pathway, activating protein kinase C (PKC), and enhancing hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP), promoting the formation of glycation end-products. advanced (AGEs) and finally altering gene expression. Therefore, glycemic management of diabetes remains the main target of treatment (25). The flavonoids present in nettle improve the blood glucose indexes via their anti-oxidant activity. Also, tannins and carotenoids, as nettle compounds could improve blood glucose indexes (19). Polyphenols are among other chemical compounds that have hypoglycemic effects. It has been shown that polyphenols intervene in increasing the expression of glucose transporter genes in muscle cells (32). Exercise, in its various forms, provides a set of physiological stimuli that cause metabolic and molecular disorders in skeletal muscle as well as many other organ systems. Exercise adaptations are structural and functional changes derived from repeated exposure to these stimuli caused by exercise, which lead to improved physiological capacity and reduced risk of illness and death (33). Based on the results of the present research, the nettle plant's reducing effect on blood glucose and increasing the number of muscle nuclei can be attributed to its effective chemical compounds and the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects of this plant.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Exercise Physiology
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