Comparison the Effect of HIIT and Resistance Training on Brain Tissue Gene Expression of AKT2 in Obese Wistar Rats

Introduction: Reducing physical activity as well as consuming more calories than the body needs increases obesity and its related disorders, such as metabolic syndrome. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance training (RT) on brain tissue gene expression of AKT2 and insulin resistance in obese Wistar rats. Methods: 30 male rats weighing 160 to 185 grams were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. After the approval of the obesity protocol of increasing the weight of the rats, which to be more than 300 grams, the rats were divided into three groups, including the control group (n = 10), HIIT group (n = 10), as well as RT group (n = 10). Until the end, the rats continued to eat a high-fat diet. HIIT was performed for eight weeks and five sessions per week, with an intensity of 80 to 95% of maximum oxygen consumption on a treadmill. Moreover, RT was performed with an intensity of 40-60% of a maximum repetition on the ladder. After eight weeks of training interventions, the expression level of the AKT2 gene in brain tissue was measured by the real-time PCR method. Results: The results of the present study demonstrated a significant increase in AKT2 gene expression of HIIT and RT groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the results illustrated that the insulin resistance of rats in both training groups was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the findings of the present research, it could be concluded that HIIT, as well as RT interventions, probably causes an increase in AKT2 gene expression and could be effective in reducing insulin resistance and improving glucose profile.