Exercise Reduces Pro-Apoptotic Bax Expression and Increases Neuronal Count in the CA۱ and CA۳ Regions of the Hippocampus in Type ۲ Diabetic Wistar Rats

Type ۲ diabetes mellitus (T۲DM) can damage hippocampal neurons, partly through increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Exercise has been shown to reduce Bax expression in the hippocampus and may have neuroprotective effect. This study examined the effect of swimming exercise on Bax expression and neuronal count in the CA۱ and CA۳ regions of the hippocampus in T۲DM rats.  Twenty-seven male Wistar strain rats were randomized into four groups: normal control (C, n=۶); T۲DM rats without six weeks follow-up (D, n=۷); sedentary T۲DM rats with six weeks follow-up (DS, n=۷); and T۲DM rats subjected to swimming exercise for six weeks (DE, n=۷). A combination of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection was utilized for T۲DM induction. Hippocampal Bax expression of CA۱ and CA۳ neurons was examined using immunohistochemistry analysis. The number of neuron cells was counted, as well as neuron cells expressing Bax. The DS group had noticeably more Bax expression and reduced neuronal count in the hippocampal CA۱ and CA۳ regions than the C group (p < ۰.۰۵). With the intervention of swimming exercise over six weeks, the Bax expression in the CA۱ and CA۳ regions of the DE group was significantly lower compared to the DS group (p<۰.۰۵). In addition, neuronal count in the hippocampal CA۱ and CA۳ regions of the DE group was significantly higher compared to that of the DS group (p < ۰.۰۵). Swimming exercise can reduce Bax expression and increasing neuronal count in the hippocampal CA۱ and CA۳ regions of T۲DM rats. These findings suggest that exercise may serve as a neuroprotective strategy to prevent hippocampal deterioration in T۲DM.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bax ، Hippocampus ، Neuron ، Swimming exercise ، Type ۲ diabetes mellitus