The effect of resistance training on skeletal muscle inflammatory factors in diabetic rats

Background: Resistance-type exercise training has been shown to represent an effective interventional strategy to increase muscle mass, strength, and function in diabetes. The myokines released from skeletal muscle have multiple metabolic and hypertrophic effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the resistance training has an effect on IL-6 and TNF-α inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into the control, training, diabetic control and diabetic training groups. Training groups performed the resistance training consisted of climbing a ladder (1 m) with increasing weight added to the tail. The IL-6, and TNF-α levels were measured in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) skeletal muscle using the ELIZA. Results: The results of this study showed that the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in EDL skeletal muscle was increased in diabetic rats. Resistance training did not change the levels of inflammatory cytokines in EDL skeletal muscle. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the cytokines and glucose levels. Conclusion: Resistance training had no significant effect on the level of inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats. The increased level of inflammatory cytokines and myokines could act as a compensatory mechanism for skeletal muscle in diabetes. It seems that the training exercise alone could not change the myokine level for skeletal muscle.