Background & Aims: Regarding the effect of diabetes on vascularization processes, the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on the cardiovascular system have been proven. This study aimed to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on muscle angiogenesis and downstream factors of the PI3KR2 pathway in cardiac tissue of diabetic rats.
Materials & Methods: Twenty diabetic male Wistar rats (mean weight, 191.9±10.85) were divided into two groups of control (n=10) and training (n=10) and the groups were matched based on weight. 48 hours after the last training session, cardiac tissue samples were taken after an overnight fast. Immunohistochemistry (alkaline phosphatase activity) was used to measure the cardiac muscle capillary density. Also, AKT and eNOS proteins were measured by ELISA method.
Results: Independent t-test showed that 8-week aerobic training significantly increased the capillary density (p=0.018) and also caused a significant increase in the expression of AKT and eNOS proteins as compared to control group (p=0.001).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated the development of angiogenesis by aerobic exercise in diabetic conditions. According to the results of this study, it can be expressed that aerobic exercise can be used as a non-drug treatment to improve heart perfusion in diabetic patients.