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Exercise improves postischemic function in aging hearts.

Joseph W Starnes1, Ryan P Taylor, Yoonjung Park

  • 1Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712-0360, USA. jstarnes@mail.utexas.edu

American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology
|March 22, 2003
PubMed
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Exercise enhances heart protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury in aging rats. This study reveals that while exercise benefits heart function across all ages, the specific protective molecular mechanisms adapt with advancing age.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Exercise Science
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Exercise is known to improve cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in younger animals.
  • This protective effect has not been extensively studied in older animals, a demographic at higher risk for ischemic events.
  • Aging significantly impacts physiological responses and cellular mechanisms, potentially altering exercise-induced cardioprotection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of aging on exercise-induced cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury.
  • To determine if exercise confers similar protective benefits across different age groups in rats.
  • To examine age-related changes in the molecular markers of cardioprotection following exercise.

Main Methods:

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  • Young, middle-aged, and old Fischer 344 rats (4, 12, and 21 months old) were subjected to a standardized exercise protocol.
  • Isolated working hearts were then subjected to global ischemia followed by reperfusion.
  • Cardiac function recovery, expression of heat shock protein 70, and activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, manganese superoxide dismutase) were measured.

    • Main Results:

    • Exercise improved cardiac function recovery post-ischemia-reperfusion in all age groups (40% at 4 mo, 78% at 12 mo, 59% at 21 mo).
    • Exercise increased inducible heat shock protein 70 expression, but this effect diminished with age (105% at 4 mo vs. 24% at 21 mo).
    • Catalase activity increased with age and was enhanced by exercise at 4 and 21 months. Manganese superoxide dismutase activity was increased by exercise only in the oldest group (45% at 21 mo).

    Conclusions:

    • Exercise provides significant cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury across all ages studied in male Fischer 344 rats.
    • The molecular mechanisms underlying exercise-induced cardioprotection, particularly the expression of heat shock proteins and antioxidant enzyme activity, change with age.
    • These findings highlight the sustained benefit of exercise for heart health throughout the lifespan, despite age-related shifts in protective pathways.