Potential impact of exercise versus irisin on hypertension, and visceral adiposity in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension. Exercise may play important role in combating obesity and diabetic complications. Irisin is a newly discovered exercise-induced myokine. Its role in mediating the beneficial effects of exercise is questionable. Aim: The present study was performed to reveal the beneficial effects of moderate-intensity exercise on diabetic-induced visceral obesity, and hypertension in a rat model of T2DM, as well as the potential role of irisin relative to exercise and the mechanisms-involved. Materials and methods: Rats were allocated into 4 groups; control, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), exercise-T2DM and irisin-T2DM groups. Body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), perirenal fat (PF), systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean blood pressures (MBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, nitrite, and HOMA-insulin resistance (IR) and histology of adipose tissue were determined. Results: Exercise attenuated the adverse effects of T2DM, whereas PF, PF index, serum nitrite, plasma insulin, and HOMA-IR comparable to controls; however, FBG, SBP, DBP and MBP still significantly higher. Partial browning of white adipose tissue demonstrated. Irisin-T2DM rats showed a remarkable effect compared to exercise intervention documented by a reduction in BW, BMI, PF, PF index, DBP, FBG, and insulin, with increase in nitrite, and complete browning of adipose tissue. Conclusion It is concluded that exercise and irisin treatment can improve visceral adiposity and hypertension; however, the protective effect of irisin is more obvious. These data suggest irisin as a potential new strategy to combat obesity and hypertension in diabetic patients.