Effect of aerobic exercise on insulin resistance induced by chronic sleep deprivation in rats

AIM To explore the effect of aerobic exercise on insulin resistance induced by sleep deprivation and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS A modified multiple platform method was used in a chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) model in rats. Thirty male 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a control group, CSD group, CSD with low-intensity aerobic exercise training (CSD+L) group, CSD with moderate intensity exercise training (CSD+M) group and CSD with high-intensity exercise training (CSD+H) group (n=6 per group). The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), positron emission tomography (PET-CT) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were employed and the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and I-kappa B (I-κB) and NF-kappa B (NF-κB) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assessed. Shortening fraction (FS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by echocardiography after 8-week chronic sleep deprivation in all the groups with or without exercise. RESULTS Compared with those in the control group, CSD decreased HOMA-IR, insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance as well as peripheral inflammation inhibitory cytokine (Iκ-B), reduced myocardial 18FDG uptake and LVEF but increased proinflammatory cytokine NF-κB. Compared with those in the CSD group, CSD+L resulted in no significant changes in the above indexes. CSD+M markedly lowered CSD induced insulin resistance, decreased the level of peripheral inflammatory cytokines and proinflammatory cytokine NF-κB and increased and myocardial 18FDG uptake and LVEF. CSD+H increased insulin resistance, serum inflammatory cytokines and proinflammatory cytokine NF-κB and decreased peripheral inflammation inhibitory cytokine Iκ-B, myocardial 18FDG uptake and LVEF. CONCLUSION CSD induced significant insulin resistance and systematic inflammation; however, moderate, not low or high, intensity aerobic exercise of aerobic exercise, improved insulin sensibility, at least partially by suppressing the serum inflammatory cytokines in response to CSD, indicating a proper intensity of aerobic exercise could improve LVEF and insulin resistance induced by chronic sleep deprivation.