The effects of voluntary exercise on histological and stereological changes of sciatic nerve, nitric oxide levels, and peripheral neuropathy caused by high-fat diet-induced type 2 diabetes in male rats

This research was conducted to investigate the possible beneficial impacts of voluntary exercise on sciatic tissue, nitric oxide levels, stereological changes, and peripheral neuropathy caused by high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in male rats. Rats were put into four experimental groups at random: healthy control (C), voluntary exercise (VE), diabetic (D), and diabetic rats treated by voluntary exercise (VED); each group contain eight animals. Animals in VE and VED groups performed voluntary exercise (VE) for ten weeks. Animals in D and VED groups became diabetic after receiving a HFD for four weeks and an intraperitoneal in-jection (IP) of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg). In order to evaluate mechanical and thermal algesia, hot plate, tail withdrawal, and von Frey tests were carried out. At the end of this study, serum NOx levels were assessed, and histological and stereological analyses were conducted. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds indicated considerable reduction (p < 0.001) which was followed by a remarkable enhance (p < 0.001) in thermal nociceptive threshold of D group. Tissue changes were also seen in sciatic nerve of D group. Voluntary exercise modified thermal and mechanical sensitivity in diabetic rats. It also improved the damaged sciatic nerve in diabetic animals.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of voluntary exercise on sciatic tissue, nitric oxide levels, stereological changes, and peripheral neuropathy caused by high-fat-diet-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus in male rats. Rats were divided into four groups: healthy control, voluntary exercise, diabetic, and diabetic rats treated with voluntary exercise. Voluntary exercise improved thermal and mechanical sensitivity in diabetic rats and also improved the damaged sciatic nerve. Serum nitric oxide levels and histological analyses were conducted to assess the impacts of exercise on the experimental groups.