Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of endurance training intensity (low, moderate and high) on the expression of skeletal muscle ATGL protein and serum levels of insulin and glucose in male diabetic rats. Material and Method: 40 streptozotocin induced diabetic male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups of eight, including low (DL , moderate (DM) and high intensity (DH) endurance training diabetic groups, diabetic control group (D), and healthy control group (Con). Three sessions of endurance training with low intensity (DL( equivalent to 5-8 m / min, moderate intensity (DM) equivalent to 17-14 m / min and high intensity (DH) equivalent to 25-22 m / min were performed every week for eight weeks. The relative expression of ATGL protein was measured with western blot technique. Serum insulin and glucose levels were measured by ELISA method. To determine the difference between the groups we used one way ANOVA test. Result: The results showed a significant difference in the expression of ATGL between the control and training groups (with low, moderate and high intensity) (p=0.0002). This difference was significant between DH and D (p=0.0049), DH and DL (p = 0.0053) and also between DH and DM (P = 0.0136) groups. Serum glucose levels were also significantly different between the DH group with the groups D (p = 0.002) and DL (p = 0.039), also, the DM group with groups D (p = 0.0018) and DL (p = 0.0165). There was a significant difference in the amount of insulin in the DH group compared to the groups DL (p = 0.011), D (p = 0.0002), and the DM group with D (p = 0.014). Conclusion:Moderate and high intensity endurance training can to some extent compensate for diabetes-induced reduction in the expression of ATGL protein and cause reduction of serum insulin and glucose levels in diabetic rats. It seems higher intensity of endurance training can lead to greater increase in expression of ATGL in diabetic rats.

Background and Aims: The present study aimed to compare the effects of three therapeutic methods (including herbal, atorvastatin, and exercise) on liver enzymes and lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic rats. Materials and Methods: A number of 32 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=8), including hypercholesterolemia (Hc) control group, anvil extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg, (Ext), exercise (E), and atorvastatin (AT) at a dose 10 mg/kg. Endurance training, anvil extract, and atorvastatin were performed three sessions per week for 8 weeks. Thereafter, liver biochemical tests, including alkaline phosphatase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lipid profiles were performed using a biochemical autoanalyzer (Ra-2000 made in USA) and the kits provided by Pars Azmun company. The data were analyzed in SPSS software using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukeychr('39')s test were used for data analysis. Results: The results of statistical analysis indicated that all variables (e.g., Alanine transaminase, Triglyceride, High-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), except for ALT, AST, and cholesterol, were significant in all groups. The results of the statistical analysis demonstrated that triglycerides and VLDL significantly reduced in the atorvastatin and exercise groups, compared to the hypercholesterolemic control group. Furthermore, HDL had a significant increase in the exercise group, compared to the atorvastatin, extract, and control groups. In addition, LDL significantly decreased in the exercise group, compared to the atorvastatin group. Conclusion: The results of the current study pointed to the similar effects of medication and exercise on the improvement of some lipid profiles. Nonetheless, exercise is advantageous over the use of medicine and herbal extracts due to the positive effects of exercise on the reduction of blood lipids and the absence of any side effects.