Effects of eight weeks of physical conditioning on atherosclerotic plaque in swine

Effects of individually prescribed exercise on the regression or interference with deposition of atherosclerotic plaque were studied. Twenty miniature swine allotted, by litter, to a control-diet group (groups CE and CS) and an atherogenic diet group (groups AE and AS). All pigs were subjected to injury (balloon catheter) of the aortic endothelium. They were fed for 8 weeks and after an initial graded exercise test was done, then each group was suballotted to an exercising group (groups CE and AE) or a sedentary group (groups CS and AS). Groups CE and AE (exercised) were given 8 weeks of training. Groups CS and AS (sedentary) were sham exercised during this period. A second graded exercise test was administered to the swine (all groups) before they were euthanatized. Aortas were analyzed for the percentage of area involved and for atherosclerotic plaque density. Samples of blood from the swine after they were fasted were obtained before the start of the project (base line) and once every 2 weeks thereafter. These were analyzed for triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol concentration. Comparison of results of blood lipid analyses from weeks 1, 9, and 15 did not show significant differences within diet groups between exercise and sedentary. Significant differences at weeks 9 and 15 were observed between diet groups (ie, the pigs fed the atherosclerotic diet had higher blood lipids). Plaque formation was not found in the pigs fed the control diet (groups CE and CS). Plaque formation was evident in all pigs fed the atherosclerotic diet (groups AE and AS) with no significant differences between exercised and sedentary groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)