Effect of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise on Fatty Liver in Mice Model

Abstract

The role of exercise in treatment of fatty liver has been recognized clinically, but the underlying molecular mechanism still unclear. PPARα is a hormone activated nuclear receptor and transcription factor, which is important for lipid metabolism, adipogenesis and insulin regulation. PURPOSE: This research was aimed to explore the effect of aerobic exercise combined with resistance training on fatty liver induced by high fat diet in mice, and the potential mechanism related with PPARα pathway. METHODS: Thirty male 8 weeks old C57BL6 mice were randomly divided into sedentary control group (CON), high-fat diet intervention group (HF) and high fat diet with exercise intervention group(HFE). After 16 weeks of high fat diet, HFE mice were subjected to 1 hour treadmill running at 15 m/min and 0° incline or 1-m vertical ladder with an 85° incline climbing for 16 times. Aerobic treadmill running and resistance climbing were arranged alternately for six days per week for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected to measure the liver function. The liver tissues were stained with oil red O. PGC-1 α and PPARα expression in liver tissue was detected by Western-blot. RESULTS: The study found that high fat diet significantly increased body weight, liver index (32.93 ±0.59g vs 46.88 ±1.03g, 0.046 ±0.001vs 0.051±0.003, p < 0. 05), serum transaminase AST and ALT (126.33±22.49u/L vs 249.63 ±17.59 u/L, 59.5 ±10.50 u/L vs 297 ±25.88 u/L, p < 0. 05) in HF mice as compared with CON mice. While these changes were alleviated by combined exercise for eight weeks with decreasing body weight ,liver index(46.88 ±1.03 g vs 40.1±1.27g, 0.051±0.003 vs 0.040±0.002, p < 0.05)and serum transaminase AST and ALT (249.63 ±17.59 u/L vs 244.25 ±59.89 u/L,297 ±25.88 u/L vs 169.88 ±38.67 u/L, p < 0. 05) in HFE mice as compared with HF mice. Expression of PPARα in HFE was increased as compared with HF mice (p < 0. 05), while the expression of PGC-1 α was found decrease (p < 0. 05) at the mean time. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that combined exercise for eight weeks might ameliorate high fat diet induced hepatic lipid metabolism disorder by regulating the expression of PGC1- α and PPAR α.