Abstract

Background: The major effects of regular exercise on diabetes mellitus are glycemic status improvement and amelioration of cardiovascular dysfunctions. This research examines whether moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can change the gene expression of metalloproteinase-2 and angiostatin in diabetic rats' heart tissue. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, thirty Wistar rats were categorized into the 3 groups diabetic exercise (n = 10), sedentary diabetes (n = 10), and healthy control (n = 10). To this end, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise was performed on a treadmill for 6 weeks. Real-time PCR was used to measure metalloproteinase-2 and angiostatin gene expression. serum cortisol concentrations were measured using an ELISA kit. The one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test was used to check significant differences among the groups. Results: A significant decrease in metalloproteinase-2 gene expression (P < 0/001) as well as a significant increase in angiostatin gene expression (P < 0/001) and serum cortisol concentrations (P < 0/001) were observed in the sedentary diabetes group compared to the healthy control group. Besides, a significant increase in metalloproteinase-2 gene expression (P < 0/001) as well as a significant decrease in angiostatin gene expression (P < 0/001) and serum cortisol concentrations (P < 0/001) were observed 6 weeks after the experiment in the diabetic exercise group compared to the sedentary diabetes group. Conclusions: Aerobic exercise improved metalloproteinase-2 and angiostatin gene expression in diabetic rats' heart tissue. This finding on diabetic cardiac angiogenesis factors confirms the effect  of aerobic exercise.