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A Rat Model of Pressure Overload Induced Moderate Remodeling and Systolic Dysfunction as Opposed to Overt Systolic Heart Failure
Published on: April 30, 2020
Moderate exercise training provides left ventricular tolerance to acute pressure overload
Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves1, Tiago Henriques-Coelho, Hélder Fonseca
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Department of Sport Biology, Research Center in Physical Activity and Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. danielmgon@gmail.com
American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology
|December 28, 2010
Summary
Moderate exercise training improves cardiac tolerance to acute pressure overload. Exercise-trained rats showed better systolic and diastolic function and less myocardial damage compared to sedentary rats during pressure overload.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Cardiac tolerance to acute pressure overload is crucial for cardiovascular health.
- The protective effects of exercise training on the heart under stress are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of moderate exercise training on cardiac tolerance to acute pressure overload.
- To investigate the underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced cardioprotection.
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar rats were subjected to 14 weeks of either exercise training or a sedentary lifestyle.
- Acute pressure overload was induced by aortic banding, and hemodynamic function was assessed.
- Myocardial damage, protein expression (active caspase-3, NF-κB), and oxidative stress markers were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Exercise-trained rats (EX + Band) maintained cardiac function during pressure overload, unlike sedentary rats (SED + Band).
- EX + Band group exhibited reduced systolic and diastolic dysfunction, less myocardial damage, and attenuated markers of apoptosis and inflammation.
- Exercise training significantly reduced protein carbonylation and nitration in the heart.
Conclusions:
- Moderate exercise training confers significant protection against acute cardiac pressure overload.
- Exercise training mitigates cardiac dysfunction and myocardial damage through reduced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
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