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Aging and the Skeletal Muscle Angiogenic Response to Exercise in Women
Timothy P Gavin1, Raymond M Kraus2, John A Carrithers3
1Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. gavin1@purdue.edu.
Summary
Aging does not impair skeletal muscle capillarization or the angiogenic response to exercise training in women. Exercise training improved capillary contacts in both young and aged women.
Area of Science:
- Exercise physiology
- Skeletal muscle biology
- Aging research
Background:
- Skeletal muscle capillarization and angiogenesis are crucial for oxygen supply and metabolic function.
- The impact of aging on these microvascular adaptations to exercise remains debated.
- Understanding age-related changes in muscle vascularity is vital for promoting healthy aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of aging on skeletal muscle capillarization and angiogenesis in response to exercise training.
- To examine the relationships between muscle capillarization, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and microvascular blood flow.
- To determine if aging impairs the adaptive response of skeletal muscle microvasculature to aerobic exercise.
Main Methods:
- Eight young (YW) and eight aged (AW) women underwent 8 weeks of aerobic exercise training.
- Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were analyzed for capillarization before and after training.
- Interstitial vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein and microvascular blood flow were measured using microdialysis at rest and during exercise.
Main Results:
- Exercise training significantly increased capillary contacts in both young and aged women across all fiber types (I, IIA, IIB) by 20%-25%.
- Aged women exhibited higher resting interstitial VEGF protein compared to young women.
- Young women showed higher interstitial VEGF during exercise than aged women, independent of training status.
Conclusions:
- Aging does not impair the skeletal muscle's angiogenic capacity in response to endurance exercise training.
- While exercise enhances capillarization in both age groups, distinct patterns of VEGF expression exist between young and aged women.
- Sex differences in vascular endothelial growth factor regulation may influence microvascular function in trained individuals.
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