Treadmill exercise modulates nitric oxide synthase expression in the hypothalamus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NO is crucially involved in the regulation of food intake and it is also closely implicated in the abnormalities of food intake such as hyperphagia. In the present study, the effects of treadmill exercise on the expressions of NOS and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the hypothalamus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups; the control-rest group, the control-exercise group, the diabetes-rest group, and the diabetes-exercise group. Rats in the exercise groups were put on the treadmill to run for 30 minutes once a day for 6 consecutive days. The results of the present study is that treadmill exercise suppressed diabetes-induced increase of NOS and nNOS expressions in the hypothalamus. These results suggest the possibility that treadmill exercise may reduce the increased appetite induced by diabetes.