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Published on: March 15, 2019
Effect of exercise training on cutaneous microcirculation in rats
E Heylen1, J Mansourati, S Thioub
1Unit of Comparative and Integrative Physiology (E.A.3879), Vascular Endothelium Exercise Group, Nutrition Health and G.I.S. Movement Sciences, Brest, France. erwan.heylen@gmail.com
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
|April 23, 2008
Summary
Regular aerobic exercise improves skin microcirculation endothelial function. Training three times weekly significantly enhanced cutaneous vascular conductance in rats, suggesting benefits beyond working muscles.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Vascular Biology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Exercise training enhances endothelium-dependent relaxation in coronary and skeletal muscle arteries.
- The impact of exercise on peripheral nonworking tissue microcirculation remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of chronic aerobic exercise on cutaneous microvascular endothelial function in rats.
- To determine if exercise frequency influences microcirculatory adaptations.
Main Methods:
- Wistar-Kyoto rats underwent an 8-week treadmill training protocol at varying frequencies (1, 3, or 5 days/week).
- Cutaneous blood flow and hyperemic response were measured to assess cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC).
- Normalized CVC was analyzed relative to mean arterial blood pressure.
Main Results:
- No significant baseline differences in CVC were observed among sedentary and training groups.
- A significant increase in normalized CVC was observed in the group training 3 days/week (Ex3) after 4 and 8 weeks.
- Training frequencies of 1 or 5 days/week did not yield significant improvements in cutaneous microcirculation.
Conclusions:
- Aerobic exercise training can improve endothelial function in non-working tissues like the skin.
- A training frequency of 3 days per week appears optimal for enhancing cutaneous microvascular function.
- These findings suggest exercise-induced vascular benefits extend to peripheral microcirculation, with frequency-dependent effects.