Effects of metformin and aerobic exercise on oxidative stress of blood vessels in type 2 diabetic rats

  Objective: To evaluate the effects of metformin, aerobic exercise, and combined intervention of metformin and aerobic exercise on vascular oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic rats.

  Methods: The type 2 diabetes model was induced by a high-fat diet and a small dose of STZ. The rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control group (NC), diabetic control group (DC), diabetic exercise group (DS), diabetic metformin intervention group ( DM) and diabetic metformin + exercise combined intervention group (DMS). After 8 weeks of intervention, the vascular morphology, tissue protein expression and serum indexes of rats were detected by HE staining pathology examination, Western blotting and ELISA methods.

  Results: The fasting blood glucose and insulin of the DS, DM and DMS groups were reduced to varying degrees. Compared with the DC group, the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the blood vessels of the DS, DM and DMS groups increased, and the expression of NOX4 protein decreased. DS and The activity of vascular SOD in the DMS group increased, and the MDA in the DM and DMS groups decreased. The serum VCAM-1 and TNF-α concentrations in the DS, DM and DMS groups all decreased to varying degrees.

  Conclusion: Metformin and aerobic exercise may reduce the vascular oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic rats by regulating the balance of Nrf2 and NOX4.