Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Journal of Eexercise & Organ Cross Talk

Effect of pharmacological and physical interventions on the metabolism of irisin and adipolin proteins in male diabetic rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mahdieh Jamshidpour 1
Azadeh Abdolahzadeh 2
Masoumeh Abdi 3
Roghieh Pouzesh Jadidi 4
Amir Khadem 5
Lamia Mirheidari 6
Mehri Ghahremani 6

1 Ph.D. Student in Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Eslamshahr, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Ph.D. Student, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education,Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.

5 PhD Student of Exercise Physiology, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

6 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education,Ta.c., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22122/jeoct.2025.535416.1162
Abstract
Crosstalk between muscle and adipose tissue via myokines and adipokines has critical implications for the metabolic regulation of type 2 diabetes. Irisin and adipolin are key secretory proteins involved in glucose homeostasis and anti-inflammatory pathways, yet the combined impact of pharmacological and physical interventions on their metabolism remains insufficiently characterized. This experimental study investigated the effects of metformin therapy and structured exercise on serum levels of irisin and adipolin, as well as related metabolic parameters, in male diabetic rats. Type 2 diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats (fasting glucose >250 mg/dl), while the healthy control group maintained normal glucose levels (~95 mg/dl). Animals were randomly assigned to control, metformin, or exercise (combined aerobic and resistance training) groups. Over eight weeks, interventions were administered and serum irisin, adipolin, and fasting blood glucose were measured pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc tests. Results showed that both metformin and exercise significantly increased adipolin levels (p<0.01). As expected, irisin levels were higher in the non-diabetic control group compared to diabetic groups (p<0.05), consistent with the known reduction of irisin in diabetes. Fasting glucose improved most notably in the exercise group. These findings indicate that metformin and exercise exert distinct yet complementary effects on key metabolic regulators—adipolin and irisin—highlighting the benefits of integrating pharmacological and lifestyle approaches in type 2 diabetes management. Future research should explore underlying molecular mechanisms and translational potential in human populations.

What is already known on this subject?

Diabetes mellitus has emerged as one of the fastest growing metabolic diseases worldwide, severely disturbing glucose metabolism, reducing insulin efficacy, and disrupting overall energy homeostasis.

 

What this study adds?

Both pharmacological (metformin) and physical (resistance and aerobic exercise) interventions significantly affect key metabolic parameters—specifically, serum levels of irisin and adipolin as well as fasting blood glucose—in male diabetic rats.

Keywords

Irisin
Adipolin
Metformin
Exercise
Myokine
Adipokine
Type 2 diabetes

Subjects

Acknowledgements

None.

Funding

None.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in the present research.

Ethical approval All procedures were conducted in accordance with ethical principles and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC: IR-KHU.KRC.1000.198).  

Informed consent Not applicable. 

Author contributions 

Conceptualization: M.J., Methodology: A.A., Software: M.A., Validation: R.J.,; Formal analysis: A.K.,; Investigation: L.M.,; Resources: M.Gh.,; Data curation: M.J.,; Writting - original draft: A.K.,; Writing–review & editing R.J.,; Visualization: M.J.,; Supervision: A.K.; Project administration: A.K,.; Funding acquisition: A.K.    

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Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Volume 5, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 198-206

  • Receive Date 18 July 2025
  • Revise Date 03 December 2025
  • Accept Date 16 December 2025

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