BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy was one of the most serious and harmful diabetic complications, characterized by progressive loss of renal function and renal fibrosis. Aerobic exercise training is an important non-pharmacologic method to prevent and treat diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozocin (STZ) was used to construct a type 1 diabetic mouse model. Renal function and mitochondrial function were measured by urinary protein level, Masson staining and ATP, superoxide production, and membrane potential, respectively. The purpose of the research was to explore the effect of aerobic exercise training on renal and renal mitochondrial function, as well as the expression of Sirt1and PGC1α in type-1 diabetic mice.

RESULTS: Sedentary diabetic mice exhibited increased urinary protein level, blood glucose, and collagen deposition in renal tissues compared with sedentary control mice, which were significantly mitigated by aerobic exercise training. Diabetic mice displayed renal tissue mitochondrial dysfunction (decreased mitochondrial ATP production and membrane potential), as well as increased mitochondrial superoxide production, which were reversed by aerobic exercise. By using Western blot analysis, we identified the decreased expression of Sirt1 and PGC1α in the renal tissue of diabetic mice, which were partly reversed by aerobic exercise training. Data showed that silencing of Sirt1 abrogated the beneficial effect of aerobic exercise training against diabetes-induced mitochondrial abnormalities and renal damage in mice.

CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic exercise training alleviates diabetes-induced renal injury by improving mitochondrial function.

Keywords: Exercise, PPAR gamma, Renal Insufficiency, Chronic