Previous hyperthermic treatment increases mitochondria oxidative enzyme activity and exercise capacity in rats

The study was designed to investigate the role of hyperthermia in the tolerance of exercise in rats and the possible mechanism was examined. The hyperthermic pretreatment was performed using an electric pad on the anesthesized rats 24 hours before exercise. Rats were exercised passively in a motor-controlled round treadmill in high temperature environment (36-37 degrees C) until exhaustion. The capacity of tolerance was calculated. Lymphocytes and gastrocnemius muscle were collected from both groups. The changes in muscular morphology, mitochondria oxidative enzyme activity and induction of Hsp72 were investigated. The results revealed that experimental rats were more tolerant to exercise at high temperature than the control group; the duration time were 89 +/- 17.8 min and 63.1 +/- 7.3 min, respectively. Hsp72 was induced markedly in the experimental group, both in muscle and lymphocytes, indicating a heat shock response. There was no significant change in morphology of the mitochondria, 24 hours after hyperthermic treatment, as shown by histopathological and electromicroscopic investigation. However, the activity of mitochondrial enzymes increased significantly in experimental group before exercise: 84.6 +/- 6.3 and 345 +/- 15.4 (nmole cytochrome c/min/mg total protein) respectively of NADH-cytochome c reductase and succinate-cytochome c reductase activity in experimental group compared to 58.9 +/- 4.7 and 269.0 +/- 24.0 in control group (p < 0.05, by student t-test). It is concluded that hyperthermic treatment enhances muscular mitochondrial oxidative enzyme activity in rats, and results in increasing tolerance to exercise at high temperature. The heat shock response, most probably the inducible Hsp72, is a crucial factor in this effect.