Effects of musclin, exercise-induced myokine on glycosylated haemoglobin of hyperlipidemic rats with type 1 diabetes

Background and aims: Musclin is a factor secreted by skeletal muscle and a potent regulator of glucose metabolism that responds to exercise. Therefore, exercise-induced musclin may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of musclin, exercise-induced myokine on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of hyperlipidemic rats with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of 7 rats per each: non-diabetic, diabetic and training diabetic. Type 1 diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). After familiarization, training diabetic rats ran increasingly on a rodent treadmill for 4 weeks (5 consecutive days per week). After the 4-week period, serum glucose, insulin and musclin (using Elisa kit), and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were measured and HbA1c was determined. Data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance.

Results: Increased serum musclin in hyperlipidemic diabetic rats increased HbA1c compared to non-diabetic rats (p < 0.05). After 4 weeks of exercise training, HbA1c decreased along with a decrease in serum musclin in hyperlipidemic diabetic rats (p < 0.05), so that a decrease in serum glucose and insulin in diabetic rats was associated with a improvement in lipid profile resulting in a decrease in HbA1c (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Four weeks of aerobic training by regulating circulating musclin improved lipid profile and HbA1c in type 1 diabetes. Hence, musclin, exercise-induced myokine could decrease HbA1c in hyperlipidemic rats with type 1 diabetes.