Effects of exercise and metformin on the prevention of glucose intolerance: a comparative study

Braz J Med Biol Res. 2015 Dec;48(12):1101-8. doi: 10.1590/1414-431X20153904. Epub 2015 Sep 29.

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise training (4 days) and metformin exposure on acute glucose intolerance after dexamethasone treatment in rats. Forty-two adult male Wistar rats (8 weeks old) were divided randomly into four groups: sedentary control (SCT), sedentary dexamethasone-treated (SDX), training dexamethasone-treated (DPE), and dexamethasone and metformin treated group (DMT). Glucose tolerance tests and in situ liver perfusion were undertaken on fasting rats to obtain glucose profiles. The DPE group displayed a significant decrease in glucose values compared with the SDX group. Average glucose levels in the DPE group did not differ from those of the DMT group, so we suggest that exercise training corrects dexamethasone-induced glucose intolerance and improves glucose profiles in a similar manner to that observed with metformin. These data suggest that exercise may prevent the development of glucose intolerance induced by dexamethasone in rats to a similar magnitude to that observed after metformin treatment.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Fasting / blood
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology
  • Glucose / analysis
  • Glucose Intolerance / chemically induced
  • Glucose Intolerance / prevention & control*
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Hyperglycemia / therapy
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Male
  • Metformin / therapeutic use*
  • Perfusion
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology*
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Swimming

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Dexamethasone
  • Metformin
  • Glucose