Exercise training induced myosin heavy chain isoform alteration in the infarcted heart

The myosin heavy chain isoform MHC-α has 3-fold higher ATPase activity than MHC-β. After myocardial infarction (MI), MHC-α expression is profoundly downregulated and MHC-β expression is reciprocally upregulated. This shift, which is attributed to low thyroid hormone (TH), contributes to myocardial systolic dysfunction. We investigated the effect of post-MI exercise training on MHC isoforms, TH, and cardiac function. MI was surgically induced in 7-week-old rats by ligation of the coronary artery. The survivors were assigned to 3 groups (n = 10/group): Sham (no MI, no exercise), MISed (MI, no exercise), and MIEx (MI, exercise). Treadmill exercise training began 1 week post-MI and lasted for 8 weeks. Echocardiogram measurements were taken on the day prior to initiation of exercise training and at the end of exercise training. Tissue and blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment. MHC isoform gene and protein expression and TH were measured. Our results illustrated that MHC-α gene expression was higher and MHC-β gene expression was lower in the MIEx group than in the MISed group. Resting serum TH concentrations (T3 and T4) were similar between the 2 MI groups. The MIEx group had higher fractional shortening than the MISed group. In conclusion, post-MI exercise training beneficially altered MHC isoforms and improved cardiac function without changing TH.