Objective: To explore effects of exercise combined Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule (DJC) on the protein expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase p22phox in pancreatic tissues of diabetic rats.
Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were injected with low dose of streptozotocin and fed with high fat diet to establish a diabetic rat model. The levels of p22phox and 8-hydroxy-2-de-oxyguanosine (8-OHdG) protein in pancreatic tissues were detected by immunohistochemical method, and the level of p22phox protein was also detected by Western blot in the normal group, the model group, the excise group, the DJC group, and the DJC +excise group, respectively.
Results: The expression levels of p22phox and 8-OHdG protein in pancreatic tissues were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group (P <0.01). p22phox and 8-OHdG were mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of pancreatic cells. After administration of exercise or DJC, the expression lev- els of p22phox or 8-OHdG protein in pancreatic tissues decreased significantly (P <0. 01). Exercise combined DJC had synergistic effects in decreasing expressions of p22phox and 8-OHdG (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Exercise, DJC, and exercise combined DJC could protect islet beta cells by decreasing the expression of NADPH oxidase in beta cells and reducing sources of oxidative stress.