[Purpose]Although the fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and irisin roles are well demonstrated in metabolic disease, there have been no reports investigating the effect of resistance exercise on FGF-21 and irisin levels in diabetic skeletal muscles. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the change of FGF-21 and irisin levels in various skeletal muscles, and their association with muscle strength, following 8 weeks of resistance training using Zucker diabetic fatty rats (type 2 diabetic animal models).[Methods]Twenty-four male lean (Zucker lean control, ZLC) and diabetic (Zucker diabetic fatty, ZDF) rats (age, 8 weeks old) were separated into 3 groups, lean control (ZLC-Con, n=8), diabetic control (ZDF-Con, n=8), and diabetic exercise-trained groups (ZDF-Ex, n=8). The rats in ZDF-Ex were trained to climb a 1-m vertical (85 degrees inclined) ladder with weights. Resistance training was performed with 10 repetitions/day for 12 weeks (3 days/week). The skeletal muscle levels of FGF-21 and irisin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.[Results]The levels of FGF-21 in the soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus muscles of ZDF-Ex were higher (p<0.05) compared to levels in ZDF-Con. Additionally, we found a significantly higher irisin level in the SOL muscles of ZDF-Ex compared to that in ZDF-Con. Moreover, we found that the levels of FGF-21 (R=0.532, p=0.02) and irisin (R=0.498, p=0.03) had significant correlations with grip strength.[Conclusion]Based on these results, resistance training may be an efficient intervention for increasing FGF-21 and irisin levels in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) skeletal muscles.

[Purpose]In the present study, we investigated the effect of exercise and arginine on the inflammatory makers and Cu-Mn superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression in the aortas of high-fat-induced obese rats.[Methods]Fifty 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned as follows: HF-Con: high-fat diet, HF-Ex: high-fat diet and exercise, HF-Ex+A: high-fat diet and combined exercise and arginine, HF-A: high-fat diet and arginine. The high-fat diet was fed for 12 weeks following 1 week of environmental adaptation with mixed solid chow. The rats performed treadmill exercise 6 times per week for 12 weeks at20 m/min for 60 min. L-argininewas mixed with saline and orally administered at 150 mg/kg once a day. Expressions of inflammatory markers (including NF- κB, TNF-α, COX-2) and SOD were evaluated using western blotting.[Results]NF-κB expression decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the HF-Ex group compared with HF-Con group, and we found additional effects(p<0.01) on NF-κB expression in HF-EX+A compared withHF-Ex. TNF-α expression decreased significantly (p<0.01) in HF-Ex, FH-Ex+A, and FH-A compared with HF-Con. In a similar trend with NF-κB expression, COX-2 expression decreased significantly in HF-Ex compared withHF-Con. In Cu-Mn SOD expression, there was no difference between HF and HF-Ex, but significant increases (p<0.01) inCu-Mn SOD werefound in HF-Ex+A and HF-A.[Conclusion]Based on our results, treatment that combines exercise and arginine might be effective for modulatingvascular inflammation and oxidative stress in obesity