Cardiac effects of acute exhaustive exercise in a rat model

AbstractBackgroundThe role of physical exercise in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases has been well described, however, elevations in cardionecrotic biomarkers after prolonged exercise (i.e. ultramarathon running) were observed. We aimed at understanding the biochemical, molecular biological, structural and functional alterations in the heart after exhaustive exercise in a rat model.MethodsRats of the exercise group were forced to swim for 3h with 5% body weight (workload) attached to the tail, control rats were taken into the water for 5min. After a 2-hour recovery period we performed left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume analysis to investigate LV function and mechanoenergetics. Additionally, blood and myocardium samples were harvested for biochemical and histological examinations. Gene expression changes were detected by qRT-PCR.ResultsWhen compared to controls, elevated plasma levels of cardiac troponin T and creatine kinase were detected after exhaustive exercise. Histological analysis showed sporadic fragmentation of myocardial structure and leukocyte infiltration in the exercised group. We observed increased end-systolic volume, decreased ejection fraction, impaired contractility (preload recruitable stroke work) and mechanoenergetics (ventriculoarterial coupling, mechanical efficiency) of LV after exercise. Myocardial expression of major antioxidant enzymes was increased along with increased myocardial nitro-oxidative stress. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and TUNEL staining showed enhanced apoptotic signaling. Exhaustive exercise also resulted in the dysregulation of the matrix metalloproteinase system.ConclusionsExcessive physical activity has an adverse effect on the heart. The observed functional impairment is associated with increased nitro-oxidative stress, enhanced apoptotic signaling and dysregulation of the matrix metalloproteinase system after exhaustive exercise

Exercise training in the aerobic/anaerobic metabolic transition prevents glucose intolerance in alloxan-treated rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ninety percent of cases of diabetes are of the slowly evolving non-insulin-dependent type, or Type 2 diabetes. Lack of exercise is regarded as one of the main causes of this disorder. In this study we analyzed the effects of physical exercise on glucose homeostasis in adult rats with type 2 diabetes induced by a neonatal injection of alloxan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Female Wistar rats aged 6 days were injected with either 250 mg/kg of body weight of alloxan or citrate buffer 0.01 M (controls). After weaning, half of the animals in each group were subjected to physical training adjusted to meet the aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition by swimming 1 h/day for 5 days a week with weight overloads. The necessary overload used was set and periodically readjusted for each rat through effort tests based on the maximal lactate steady state procedure. When aged 28, 60, 90, and 120 days, the rats underwent glucose tolerance tests (GTT) and their peripheral insulin sensitivity was evaluated using the HOMA index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The area under the serum glucose curve obtained through GTT was always higher in alloxan-treated animals than in controls. A decrease in this area was observed in trained alloxan-treated rats at 90 and 120 days old compared with non-trained animals. At 90 days old the trained controls showed lower HOMA indices than the non-trained controls.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Neonatal administration of alloxan induced a persistent glucose intolerance in all injected rats, which was successfully counteracted by physical training in the aerobic/anaerobic metabolic transition.</p

Muscle protein metabolism in neonatal alloxan-administered rats: effects of continuous and intermittent swimming training

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study aimed to examine the effects of intermittent and continuous swimming training on muscle protein metabolism in neonatal alloxan-administered rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Wistar rats were used and divided into six groups: sedentary alloxan (SA), sedentary control (SC), continuous trained alloxan (CA), intermittent trained alloxan (IA), continuous trained control (CC) and intermittent trained control (IC). Alloxan (250 mg/kg body weight) was injected into newborn rats at 6 days of age. The continuous training protocol consisted of 12 weeks of swimming training in individual cylinder tanks while supporting a load that was 5% of body weight; uninterrupted swimming for 1 h/day, five days a week. The intermittent training protocol consisted of 12 weeks of swimming training in individual cylinder tanks while supporting a load that was 15% of body weight; 30 s of activity interrupted by 30 s of rest for a total of 20 min/day, five days a week.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At 28 days, the alloxan animals displayed higher glycemia after glucose overload than the control animals. No differences in insulinemia among the groups were detected. At 120 days, no differences in serum albumin and total protein among the groups were observed. Compared to the other groups, DNA concentrations were higher in the alloxan animals that were subjected to continuous training, whereas the DNA/protein ratio was higher in the alloxan animals that were subjected to intermittent training.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It was concluded that continuous and intermittent training sessions were effective in altering muscle growth by hyperplasia and hypertrophy, respectively, in alloxan-administered animals.</p

Biomarcadores do estresse em ratos exercitados por natação e corrida em esteira rolante

Muitos estudos enfocando metabolismo e exercício são desenvolvidos em modelos animais, especialmente os ratos. Entre os exercícios mais utilizados nas pesquisas com animais estão a esteira rolante e a natação. Contudo, ainda persistem dúvidas de qual seria o exercício mais apropriado para desencadear mais respostas ao exercício e menos respostas associadas a outros estresses. A atividade do eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-adrenal constituído pelos hormônios ACTH e corticosterona são importantes biomarcadores de estresse. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar biomarcadores do estresse durante exercício de intensidade conhecida em ratos exercitados por natação e por corrida em esteira rolante. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar adultos, adaptados aos exercícios, que tiveram a máxima fase estável de lactato (MFEL) determinada. Para isso, foram submetidos a 3 testes de 25 minutos de exercícios de natação (n=18) suportando cargas de 5,0 ; 5,5 e 6,0% do peso corporal (PC) ou 3 corridas com 25 minutos de duração (n=13) às velocidades de 15; 20 e 25 m/min. Houve coleta sangüínea da extremidade da cauda dos ratos a cada 5 minutos de exercício para dosagem de lactato. Após obtenção da MFEL, os animais foram divididos em subgrupos: (M) sacrificados imediatamente após sessão de 25 minutos de exercício (natação=09 ou esteira=07) na intensidade da MFEL ou (S) sacrificado após exercício exaustivo (natação=09 ou esteira=06) em intensidade 25% superior a MFEL. Para comparações, um grupo controle C (n=10) foi sacrificado em repouso. Utilizou-se Anova Two Way para identificar possíveis diferenças nos parâmetros de estresse (p<0,05). Foram obtidos os seguintes resultados MFEL: natação 5,5% do PC e corrida 20m/min às concentrações de lactato sanguíneo (mmol/L) de 5,2l0,3 na natação e 3,8l0,1 na corrida...Many studies on metabolism and exercise are developed with animal models especially rats. Treadmill running and swimming are among the exercises most used in researches involving animals. However, doubts on which would be the most suitable exercise to unchain more responses to exercise and less responses associated to other stresses still remain. The activity of the hypothalamic-pytuitary-adrenal axis composed of ACTH and corticosterone hormones are important stress biomarkers. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to compare stress biomarkers during known-intensity swimming and treadmill running exercises performed by rats. Wistar adult rats previously adapted to exercises and with their maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) determined were used. To do this, rats were submitted to 3 swimming tests with 25 minutes of duration (n=18) with loads of 5.0; 5.5 and 6.0% of their body weight (BW) or to 3 running sessions with 25 minutes of duration (n=13) at velocities of 15; 20 and 25 m/min. Blood samples were collected from the tip tail of rats each 5 minutes of exercise for lactate dosage. After MLSS attainment, the animals were divided into the following subgroups: (M) sacrificed shortly after session of 25 minutes of exercise (swimming=09 or treadmill=07) at the MLSS intensity or (S) sacrificed after exhaustive exercise (swimming=09 or treadmill=06) at intensity 25% above MLSS. For comparison purposes, a control group C (n=10) was sacrificed in rest. The Two-Way ANOVA was used in order to identify possible differences in the stress parameters (P<0.05). The following results were obtained: MLSS: swimming 5.5% of the BW and treadmill running at 20 m/min at blood lactate concentrations (mmol/L) of 5.2l0.3 in swimming and of 3.8l0.1in running. Serum ACTH concentrations (pg/mL) were significantly higher for the swimming group (963.3l420.4)... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Non-exhaustive test for aerobic capacity determination in running rats

781-785A simple and applicable method for non-exhaustive aerobic evaluation in running rats is described. Wistar rats were submitted to running test at different velocities (10, 15, 20, 25 m/min) with 48 h recovery among them. At each velocity, the rats ran two bouts of 5 min with 2 min of rest between bouts. Blood samples were collected at the end of each bout for lactate determination. For each intensity, delta lactate was calculated and using deltas obtained by four tests, an individual linear interpolation was plotted. The y-intercept of linear interpolation was the “null delta lactate” equivalent to the critical velocity (CV). To verify the lactate stabilization at CV, the animals were submitted to 25 min of continuous exercise (15, 20, 25 m/min), with blood collection every 5 min. The estimated CV was 16.6±0.7 m/min, with significant linear regressions (R=0.90±0.03). The rats presented maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) at 3.9±0.4 mmol/L, at 20 m/min. The CV was less than MLSS but significantly correlated with this parameter (r=0.78). This non-exhaustive test seems to be valid for the aerobic evaluation of sedentary rats and this protocol underestimates the MLSS in 20%. This test seems to be the interesting method for the evaluation of rats submitted to acute exercise or physical training

Non-exhaustive test for aerobic capacity determination in running rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)A simple and applicable method for non-exhaustive aerobic evaluation in running rats is described. Wistar rats were submitted to running test at different velocities (10, 15, 20, 25 m/min) with 48 h recovery among them. At each velocity, the rats ran two bouts of 5 min with 2 min of rest between bouts. Blood samples were collected at the end of each bout for lactate determination. For each intensity, delta lactate was calculated and using deltas obtained by four tests, an individual linear interpolation was plotted. The y-intercept of linear interpolation was the "null delta lactate" equivalent to the critical velocity (CV). To verify the lactate stabilization at CV, the animals were submitted to 25 min of continuous exercise (15, 20, 25 m/min), with blood collection every 5 min. The estimated CV was 16.6 +/- 0.7 m/min, with significant linear regressions (R=0.90 +/- 0.03). The rats presented maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) at 3.9 +/- 0.4 mmol/L, at 20 m/min. The CV was less than MLSS but significantly correlated with this parameter (r=0.78). This non-exhaustive test seems to be valid for the aerobic evaluation of sedentary rats and this protocol underestimates the MLSS in 20%. This test seems to be the interesting method for the evaluation of rats submitted to acute exercise or physical training.4910781785Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [Proc. 04/07070-5

Non-exhaustive test for aerobic capacity determination in running rats

A simple and applicable method for non-exhaustive aerobic evaluation in running rats is described. Wistar rats were submitted to running test at different velocities (10, 15, 20, 25 m/min) with 48 h recovery among them. At each velocity, the rats ran two bouts of 5 min with 2 min of rest between bouts. Blood samples were collected at the end of each bout for lactate determination. For each intensity, delta lactate was calculated and using deltas obtained by four tests, an individual linear interpolation was plotted. The y-intercept of linear interpolation was the null delta lactate equivalent to the critical velocity (CV). To verify the lactate stabilization at CV, the animals were submitted to 25 min of continuous exercise (15, 20, 25 m/min), with blood collection every 5 min. The estimated CV was 16.6±0.7 m/min, with significant linear regressions (R=0.90±0.03). The rats presented maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) at 3.9±0.4 mmol/L, at 20 m/min. The CV was less than MLSS but significantly correlated with this parameter (r=0.78). This non-exhaustive test seems to be valid for the aerobic evaluation of sedentary rats and this protocol underestimates the MLSS in 20%. This test seems to be the interesting method for the evaluation of rats submitted to acute exercise or physical training