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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
A Method to Study the Impact of Chemically-induced Ovarian Failure on Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Adaptation in Mice
Published on: April 7, 2014
Exercise training associated with estrogen therapy induced cardiovascular benefits after ovarian hormones deprivation
Karin Flues1, Janaina Paulini, Sebastião Brito
1Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
Menopause is recognized as a period of increased risk for coronary heart disease. Although the benefits of exercise training in lowering cardiovascular risk factors are well established, the risks and benefits of hormone therapy have been questioned. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of estrogen therapy (HT) associated or not with exercise training (ET) in autonomic cardiovascular control in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Female rats were divided into: control, OVX, OVX+HT, OVX+ET and OVX+HT+ET. HT was performed using a 0.25mg 8-weeks sustained release pellet. Trained groups were submitted to an 8-week exercise training protocol on treadmill. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was evaluated by heart rate responses to arterial pressure (AP) changes, and vagal and sympathetic tonus by pharmacological blockade. Ovariectomy induced an AP increase (123+/-2mmHg vs. 108+/-2mmHg), BRS impairment ( approximately 69%), sympathetic activation ( approximately 100%) and vagal tonus reduction ( approximately 77%) compared to controls. HT or ET normalized the changes in parasympathetic tonus. However, only the association HT+ET was able to promote normalization of AP, BRS and sympathetic tonus, as compared to controls. These results indicate that ET induces cardiovascular and autonomic benefits in OVX rats under HT, suggesting a positive role of this association in the management of cardiovascular risk factor in postmenopausal women.
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