Effect of Resistance Training on Capillary Density Around Slow and Fast Twitch Muscle Fibers in Diabetic and Normal Rats

 Jahangir Karimian 1 ; Majid Khazaei 2 ; and Parivash Shekarchizadeh 1, *
۱ Department of School Management And Medical Informatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran
۲ Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Department of Physiology, School of medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran

Asian Journal of Sport Medicine

Background: It is well accepted that skeletal muscle conforms to exercise stimulus by increasing capillary density and angiogenesis, but there is less evidence regarding the effect of resistance training on capillary density in flexor hallucis longus (FHL) and soleus muscle.

Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the effect of resistance training on capillary density around soleus and FHL muscles in type 1 diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-six male rats were divided into four groups: (1) control; (2) diabetic; (3) diabetic trained and (4) control trained (n = 9 each). A Single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin at a dose of 55 mg/kg was used for induction of diabetes. The rats in the trained group undertook one training session per day for 3 days/week. Training was done with the use of a 1 meter high ladder inclined at 80°. After 4 weeks, the plasma nitrite concentrations were measured. Capillary/fiber ratio was determined around soleus and FHL muscles by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Plasma Nitric Oxide (NO) concentration was increased after resistance training in diabetic animals (P < 0.05). Capillary/fiber ratio around the soleus muscle of diabetic group was more than control rats. Resistance training did not alter capillary/fiber ratio in diabetic animals (1.00 ± ۰٫۶ vs. 1.07 ± ۰٫۰۷, respectively). Capillary/fiber ratio around FHL muscle was significantly different between diabetic and control and did not alter after exercise (diabetes: 1.1702 ± ۰٫۰۹; diabetic trained: 1.1714 ± ۰٫۰۸; control: 0.79 ± ۰٫۰۸; control trained: 0.73 ± ۰٫۰۳). There was a positive correlation between plasma NO concentration and capillary density in the soleus muscle (R2 = 0.65).

Conclusions: Resistance training could not improve capillary/fiber ratio in soleus and FHL muscle of diabetic animals in spite of increase in some angiogenic factors including NO.

Keywords: Exercise; Nitric Oxide; Capillary Density; Diabetes

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