INFUENCE OF MODERATE AEROBIC EXERCISE ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES AND OXIDATIVE STRESS CAUSED BY DIABETIC NEPHOPATHY IN RATS
Diabetes Mellitus; Kidney; Physical activity; Diabetic Nephropathy; Oxidative stress
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an endocrine and diffuse disease, defined by high concentration of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) and marked by metabolic abnormalities and chronic complications. One of the most important of these complications is diabetic nephropathy (ND), characterized by loss of podocytes and expansion of the mesangial matrix, with consequent marked proteinuria. Currently, regular exercise, combined with diet and insulin therapy, has been considered one of the main approaches in the treatment of DM, whereas sedentary lifestyle presents itself as a predictor of complications and mortality. Recent studies have reported that physical exercise is capable of slowing the progression of kidney disease. However, most of the studies verified renal changes in DM only in the long term. In addition, knowledge about the effects of physical exercise on diabetic nephropathy is still scarce. This work aims to investigate the effect of moderate aerobic exercise on the morphofunctional, biochemical and molecular aspects of the renal tissue of diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups (n = 12 / group): sedentary (CS), trained control (CT), sedentary diabetic (DS), trained diabetic (DT) (DTP). DM was induced by streptozotocin (40mg / kg, i.p.). Soon after the confirmation of diabetes, the exercise program consisted of six weeks of swimming (3 days / week and 30 minutes / day) for the CT and DT groups. The DTP group underwent four weeks of previous exercise in relation to the beginning of the training of the other trained groups. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis (blood glucose, creatinine and albumin). The kidneys were collected for histological analysis of renal parenchymal integrity (Hematoxylin and Eosin), formation of fibrotic tissue (Picrosirius red), and thickening of the basal glomerular membrane (Schiff's Periodic Acid). The activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), as well as the levels of lipid peroxidation by the thiobarbituric acid reaction (TBARS) were also analyzed. The animals in the diabetic group had a higher glycemic index when compared to the control groups (p <0.05). There was also an improvement in the trained diabetic groups, when compared to the sedentary diabetic group, but it was not significant. Creatinine was increased in all groups when compared to control (p <0.05). Albumin, as well as weight, were decreased in the diabetic groups, compared to the control group (p <0.05). DM resulted in renal hypertrophy in the diabetic groups, compared to the control groups (p <0.05). As well as an increase in the size and number of glomeruli of the diabetic groups, when compared to the control groups (p <0.05). As for oxidative damages, these were lower in the treated groups. Thus, it is observed that physical activity prevents complications due to diabetes.