Leucine-Rich Diet and Light Aerobic Training Modulate GLUT4 Expression And Increase the Glycogen Content in the Gastrocnemius Muscle of Walker-256 Tumour-Bearing Rats

Leucine-Rich Diet and Light Aerobic Training Modulate GLUT4 Expression And Increase the Glycogen Content in the Gastrocnemius Muscle of Walker-256 Tumour-Bearing Rats

The intense mobilisation of substrates during cancer induces the loss of body mass, which mainly results from the depletion of muscle protein due to increased proteolysis and/or decreased protein synthesis, leading to cachexia. Leucine is also used as an energy source and as a cell-signalling molecule by skeletal muscle. Additionally, physical activity increases glucose consumption, which reduces the levels of circulating glucose and insulin. This work investigated the effects of leucine supplementation and light aerobic-exercise (swimming) on muscle carbohydrate metabolism in Walker tumour-bearing rats. Trained adult rats were fed a leucine-rich diet and implanted with Walker-256 tumour cells. We assessed the levels of serum glucose, cytokine and hormone and muscle glycolytic gene expression, glycogen content and fibre size.