The effect of Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) on the content of Mfn1 protein and the long and short isoforms of Opa1 in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue of rats with type 2 diabetes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective: Type 2 diabetes can lead to impairment in mitochondrial fusion proteins. Exercise appears to modulate this dysfunction. This study investigated the effect of Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) on the content of Mfn1 protein and the long and short isoforms of Opa1 in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue of rats with type 2 diabetes.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 18 rats were selected. Twelve of them were induced to have diabetes with a combined protocol of high-fat diet and streptozotocin and nicotinamide injection and then randomly divided into 2 groups: MICT diabetic group and control diabetic group (6 heads in each group). A healthy control group (n=6) was also included. The training protocol was performed for eight weeks, five sessions per week, in a progressive and incremental manner. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, gastrocnemius muscle tissue samples were collected, and protein content was measured using the Western blot technique. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests.
Results: Eight weeks of MICT protocol led to a significant increase in the content of Mfn1 protein and both the long and short isoforms of Opa1 (p<0.05). Conversely, diabetes induction resulted in a significant decrease in Mfn1 and the long and short Opa1 isoforms (p<0.05). Body weight and blood glucose were also modulated following MICT (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The MICT protocol can modulate mitochondrial dynamics in the skeletal muscle of diabetic rats by increasing the expression of key mitochondrial fusion proteins (Mfn1 and Opa1 isoforms).

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Daneshvar Medicine
Volume 33, Issue 3 - Serial Number 178
September and October 2026

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