Does irisin has neuroprotective effect against diabetes induced neuropathy in male rats?

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the contribution of irisin in the neuroprotective process of exercise training in diabetic rats. Serum irisin levels, thermal and mechanical pain thresholds and intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) levels in sensory neurons were measured at different time intervals during the eight weeks of exercise sessions for the control, non-exercise diabetics (3 groups) and exercise performing (low and high intensity groups) diabetic rats (n = 7-10 for all groups). Non-exercise diabetic groups were treated with irisin in different doses (1, 10 and 20 µg/kg respectively). Recovered pain thresholds at the end of the exercise sessions (p < .05), higher serum irisin levels that compared to control and diabetics (p < .05) and insignificant mean [Ca2⁺]_i peak amplitudes in sensory neurons (p > .05) obtained from experiments. Furthermore, irisin injection decreased the thermal pain threshold of diabetics only at 60th minutes (p < .05). Irisin may have a role in the neuroprotective effect of exercise training.

Keywords:

• Exercise
• irisin
• neurodegeneration
• neuropathic pain
• calcium

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [OFK], upon reasonable request.

Author contributions

OFK conceived and designed the study and wrote the manuscript. YES, ZS and OA assisted the experiments and helped for experiments. AA performed the biochemical analyses. MO performed the statistical analyses. All authors discussed the data and approved the submitted draft. OFK takes responsibility for the integrity of the study

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Karadeniz Technical University. Projects number: TDK-2016–5352 and TDK-2016–5385. I also express thanks to Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ayar for his guidance.