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Echocardiographic and Histological Examination of Cardiac Morphology in the Mouse
Published on: October 26, 2017
Increased cx43 and angiogenesis in exercised mouse hearts
M Bellafiore1, G Sivverini, D Palumbo
1Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. bellafiore@unipa.it
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|April 25, 2007
Summary
Endurance exercise training in mice led to cardiac hypertrophy, not from cell size changes, but increased capillary area. This microvascular remodeling involved vimentin and connexin-43, suggesting a role in cardiac angiogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Exercise training induces cardiac hypertrophy, but the underlying microstructural adaptations remain incompletely understood.
- Previous research focused on macroscopic changes, necessitating a detailed evaluation of cellular and vascular components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of endurance exercise on myocardiocyte, interstitial, and vascular components in mouse hearts.
- To assess the expression of connexin-43 and its role in exercise-induced cardiac adaptations.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-three male Swiss mice underwent treadmill exercise for 15, 30, or 45 days.
- Morphometric analyses quantified myocardiocyte size/number, capillary, and interstitial connective tissue (ICT) areas.
- Western blot analysis measured ventricle myosin light chain-II, vimentin, and connexin-43 expression.
Main Results:
- Exercise induced cardiac hypertrophy in the interventricular septum and left ventricle, particularly in 30- and 45-day groups.
- Hypertrophy was attributed to increased capillary area, not changes in myocardiocyte size/number or ICT quantity.
- Increased vimentin expression in ICT cells and connexin-43 upregulation were observed, correlating with microvascular remodeling.
Conclusions:
- Endurance exercise promotes cardiac angiogenesis and microvascular remodeling, contributing to cardiac hypertrophy.
- Vimentin and connexin-43 play significant roles in exercise-induced cardiac adaptations and angiogenesis.
