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Physical training improves thermogenesis and insulin pathway, and induces remodeling in white and brown adipose tissues

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Abstract

Physical training (PT) has been considered as a treatment in metabolic syndrome (MS), since it induces thermogenic activity in brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissues. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of PT on activity of WAT and BAT in rats with MS induced by high-fat diet (30% lard) for 13 weeks and submitted, for the last 6 weeks, to swimming or kept sedentary (SED) rats. MS-SED rats compared to control diet (CT-SED) rats showed low physical fitness and high levels of glucose, insulin, homeostasis evaluation of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis evaluation of the functional capacity of β-cells (HOMA-β), and blood pressure. The gastrocnemius muscle decreased in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha and beta (PGC-1α, PGC-1β), and uncoupled protein 2 and 3 (UCP2 and UCP3) expressions. Both WAT and BAT increased in the adipocyte area and decreased in blood vessels and fibroblast numbers. WAT increased in expression of pro-inflammatory adipokines and decreased in anti-inflammatory adipokine and adiponectin. WAT and gastrocnemius showed impairment in the insulin signaling pathway. In response to PT, MS rats showed increased physical fitness and restoration of certain biometric and biochemical parameters and blood pressure. PT also induced thermogenic modulations in skeletal muscle, WAT and BAT, and also improved the insulin signaling pathway. Collectively, PT was effective in treating MS by inducing improvement in physical fitness and interchangeable effects between skeletal muscle, WAT and BAT, suggesting a development of brown-like adipocyte cells.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for support from the Center of Animal Science (CCA/UFOP), Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Laboratory of Experimental Physiology. This study was supported by the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação (PROPP-UFOP), FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais)-RedeToxifar, CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), FAPEMIG-Universal, Pronex (FAPEMIG/ CNPq) and CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil

    Maria Andrea Barbosa & Andréia Carvalho Alzamora

  2. INCT-Nanobiofar-FAPEMIG-CNPq, Ouro Preto, Brazil

    Maria Andrea Barbosa, Renata Guerra-Sá, Uberdan Guilherme Mendes De Castro, Robson Augusto Souza dos Santos, Maria José Campagnole-Santos & Andréia Carvalho Alzamora

  3. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil

    Renata Guerra-Sá, Wanderson Geraldo de Lima & Andréia Carvalho Alzamora

  4. Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil

    Renata Guerra-Sá, Uberdan Guilherme Mendes De Castro, Wanderson Geraldo de Lima & Andréia Carvalho Alzamora

  5. Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Robson Augusto Souza dos Santos & Maria José Campagnole-Santos

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  1. Maria Andrea Barbosa
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Correspondence to Andréia Carvalho Alzamora.

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Barbosa, M.A., Guerra-Sá, R., De Castro, U.G.M. et al. Physical training improves thermogenesis and insulin pathway, and induces remodeling in white and brown adipose tissues. J Physiol Biochem 74, 441–454 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-018-0637-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-018-0637-x

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