Purpose: Despite the well-established exercise effects on monocarboxylate transportes (MCTs), the triggers of these changes still remains unknown. The objective of the present study was to investigate the long-term effects of seven-week endurance training on MCT1 and MCT4 gene expression of Soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and their correlation with basigin (CD147) gene expression.
Methods: Twenty male wistar rats (173.1 – 208.4 g) were randomly divided in two equal control and training groups according to their body weight. Endurance training (start with 20 m/min, or 20 min and progressively increase to 30 m/min, for 35 min) was applied to the training group for seven weeks. 48 hours after the final session of training, the rats were sacrificed and soleus and EDL were extracted immediately. MCT1 and MCT4 gene expression were measured by Real time-PCR technique and relative expression of each gene was calculated by 2 –ΔΔCT method. Between-group variance was determined by independent t-test and Pearson Coefficient Correlation was used for the determination of significant correlation between variables.
Results: Significant increase (% 47) in EDL MCT1 expression (p < 0.05), 19 percent in EDL MCT4 expression (p < 0.05) were found in trained animals in comparison to control group. CD147 expression in trained animals remained unchanged in EDL and had significant increase (% 21) in soleus muscle in comparison to control group. Significant correlation was only found for Soleus muscle between MCT1 and CD147.
Conclusion: The findings of the study illustrate that exercise – induced increase in MCT1 and MCT4 expression is partially modulated by transcriptional mechanisms and occur in isoform – specific manner. The CD147 expression is correlated with tissue oxidative capacity and regulates the MCT1 expression.