Comparison of High- and Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Training on Cerebellar Autophagy in Aged Rats With Induced Diabetes

Ehsan  Tabibi; Mohammad Sajadian; Shirin  Zilaei Bouri; Meysam  Shabaaninia; Lena  Motallebi

Authors

Ehsan Tabibi PhD Student, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Sho.C., Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2168-7099
Mohammad Sajadian Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Sho.C., Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran Corresponding Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3218-492X
Shirin Zilaei Bouri Department of Sports Sciences, MaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Masjed-Soleyman, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4371-9192
Meysam Shabaaninia Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Sho.C., Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9328-2460
Lena Motallebi Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Sho.C., Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4544-5358

Keywords:

autophagy, LC3, Beclin-1, SA-β-gal, moderate-intensity continuous training, high-intensity interval training, diabetes, aging, cerebellum.

Abstract

Aging and diabetes are associated with impaired autophagic function, which can lead to the accumulation of cellular damage, accelerated cellular senescence, and increased vulnerability of neural tissues, particularly the cerebellum. Aerobic exercise has been proposed as a non-pharmacological strategy for improving autophagy and attenuating the adverse consequences of aging and diabetes; however, the comparative effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on autophagy-related markers in the cerebellum of aged diabetic rats have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of MICT and HIIT on markers of autophagy and cellular senescence in the cerebellum of aged rats with diabetes. In this experimental study, rats were initially maintained on either a standard diet or a high-fat, high-fructose diet. At 6 months of age, the young control groups were sampled. After the animals reached 18 months of age, they were assigned to four groups: aged healthy control, aged diabetic control, aged diabetic + MICT, and aged diabetic + HIIT. The exercise programs were conducted for 3 months. Diabetes induction was confirmed by assessment of blood glucose and insulin resistance. Forty-eight hours after the final exercise session, cerebellar tissue was collected, and the expression levels of LC3-I, LC3-II, and Beclin-1 were measured using Western blotting. The LC3-II/LC3-I ratio was also calculated as an index of autophagic flux, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity was assessed using ELISA. The results showed that aging combined with diabetes increased LC3-I expression, decreased the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, and reduced Beclin-1 expression in the cerebellum, indicating impaired autophagy. SA-β-gal activity was also significantly increased in the aged diabetic group. Both exercise protocols partially reversed these alterations; however, MICT was more effective than HIIT in increasing the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, improving Beclin-1 expression, and reducing SA-β-gal activity. Overall, aging and diabetes impair autophagy and increase cellular senescence in the cerebellum, and both forms of aerobic exercise exert protective effects; nevertheless, MICT appears to be more effective than HIIT.

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