Telocytes response to cardiac growth induced by resistance exercise training and endurance exercise training in adult male rats.

Telocytes are interstitial cells found in different tissues, including cardiac stem cell niches. The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of the telocytes to the cardiac growth that occurs in response to resistance and endurance exercise trainings using rats distributed into control, endurance, and resistance training groups. Results revealed that the ratio of heart weight to body weight, cardiomycyte number, cardiomyocyte area, thickness of the left ventricular wall were significantly higher in the training groups compared to the control group. We observed increment in the cardiomyocytes surface area and thickness of the left ventricular wall in the resistance-training group than endurance-training group. We conclude that both resistance and endurance exercise trainings will lead to an increased number of cardiac telocytes, consequently, promote activity of the cardiac stem cells, and results in physiological cardiac growth, and this response does not seem to depend on the type of exercise.

Interaction of exercise training with taurine attenuates infarct size and cardiac dysfunction via Akt-Foxo3a-Caspase-8 signaling pathway.

This research aimed to investigate the synergistic protective effect of exercise training and taurine on Akt-Foxo3a-Caspase-8 signaling related to infarct size and cardiac dysfunction. Therefore, 25 male Wistar rats with MI were divided into five groups: sham (Sh), control-MI(C-MI), exercise training-MI(Exe-MI), taurine supplementation-MI(Supp-MI), and exercise training + taurine-MI(Exe + Supp-MI). The taurine groups were given a 200 mg/kg/day dose of taurine by drinking water. Exercise training was conducted for 8 weeks (5 days/week), each session alternated 2 min with 25-30% VO2peak and 4 min with 55-60% VO2peak for 10 alternations. Then, the left ventricle tissue samples were taken from all groups. Exercise training and taurine activated Akt and decreased Foxo3a. Expression of the caspase-8 gene was increased in cardiac necrosis after MI, While, after 12 weeks of intervention decreased. Results exhibited that exercise training combined with taurine has a greater effect than either alone on activating the Akt-Foxo3a-caspase signaling pathway (P < 0.001). MI-induced myocardial injury leads to increase collagen deposition (P < 0.001) and infarct size and results in cardiac dysfunction via reduced stroke volume, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening (P < 0.001). Exercise training and taurine improved cardiac functional parameters (SV, EF, FS) and infarct size (P < 0.001) after 8 weeks of intervention in rats with MI. Also, the interaction of exercise training and taurine has a greater effect than alone on these variables. Interaction of exercise training with taurine supplementation induces a general amelioration of the cardiac histopathological profiles and improves cardiac remodeling via activating Akt-Foxo3a-Caspase-8 signaling with protective effects against MI.

Exercise attenuates myocardial fibrosis and increases angiogenesis-related molecules in the myocardium of aged rats.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of two different exercise training protocols on myocardial fibrosis and the expression of some growth factors in aged rats. METHOD: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) group, continuous exercise training (CET) group, and the control group. After 6 weeks of experiment, mRNA levels of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), adropin proteins, and myocardial fibrosis were assessed. RESULTS: HIIT and CET induced a significant increase in the FGF-2 and adropin and a decrease in the myocardial fibrosis in compared with the control group. HIIT induced a significant increase in the VEGF if compared with the control group. There was no significant difference between CET and control group. CONCLUSION: Six weeks of HIIT and CET attenuated age-related myocardial fibrosis thereby an increase in angiogenesis-related molecules in cardiac and endothelial tissues.

Hippocampal Oxidative Stress Induced by Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation and the Neuroprotective Effects of Aerobic Exercise in Rats: A Randomized Control Trial.

BACKGROUND: The present study determined whether 4 weeks of moderate aerobic exercise improves antioxidant capacity on the brain of rats against oxidative stress caused by radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones. METHODS: Responses of malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, as well as the number of hippocampal dead cells, were examined. Male Wistar rats (10-12 wk old) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups (N = 8): (1) moderate aerobic exercise (EXE) (2 × 15-30 min at 1215 m/min speed with 5 min of active recovery between sets), (2) exposure to 900/1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic waves 3 hours per day (RAD), (3) EXE + RAD, and (4) exposure to an experimental phone without battery. RESULTS: Following the exposure, the number of the hippocampal dead cells was significantly higher in group RAD compared with groups EXE, EXE + RAD, and control group. Malondialdehyde concentration in group RAD was significantly higher than that of groups EXE, EXE + RAD, and control group. Also, the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in groups EXE, EXE + RAD, and control group was significantly higher compared with those of the exposure group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that moderate aerobic exercise enhances hippocampal antioxidant capacity against oxidative challenge in the form of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves.

High-Intensity Interval Training in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) appears to be safe and effective in cardiovascular diseases. However, there is a paucity of data on the effect of HIIT for patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The present randomized controlled trial (RCT) therefore examined the efficiency and safety of HIIT in patients with acute PE. METHODS: In single-center parallel open-label RCT, 24 patients (5 women) discharged recently with a diagnosis of intermediate-high-risk acute PE were randomized (1:1) to supervised HIIT (n = 12) or control (n = 12) group. The primary outcomes were exercise capacity evaluated in terms of the estimated maximal oxygen uptake (eV˙O2max), lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1]), right ventricular (RV) function (RV/left ventricular diameter [LV] ratio), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Safety was the secondary outcome. RESULTS: Eight weeks of HIIT improved eV˙O2max (+65%, P < 0.001), FEV1 (%) (+17%, P = 0.031), and RV/LV ratio diameter (-27%, P = 0.005), as well as HRQoL. All patients in the HIIT group tolerated exercise training without serious adverse events. The control group did not improve (P > 0.05) eV˙O2max, RV/LV ratio diameter, or HRQoL; however, FEV1 (%) was slightly reduced (-6%, P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: The present RCT of a tailored center-based HIIT intervention provides preliminary evidence that this intervention could improve exercise capacity, lung function, RV function, and HRQoL without serious adverse events, which could provide marked clinical benefits after PE. Further larger multicenter randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these promising findings.

Aerobic Training-induced Upregulation of YAP1 and Prevention of Cardiac Pathological Hypertrophy in Male Rats.

BACKGROUND: Pathological hypertrophy is one of the negative consequences of cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity. Recent studies have shown that YAP1 plays a critical role in cardiomyocytes hypertrophy. Considering the preventive role of exercise training in cardiovascular diseases, the present study was conducted to examine the effect of aerobic exercise training on YAP1 gene expression and its upstream components. METHODS: Eighteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into aerobic training and control groups. Aerobic training was performed one hour/day, five days per week, for eight weeks, on a treadmill at 65-75% VO2 max. Pathological hypertrophy was induced by injecting 3 mg/kg-1 of isoproterenol for seven days. The left ventricle was separated, and YAP1, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST), large tumor suppressor (LATS), and mitogen-activated protein 4 kinase (MAP4K) gene expressions were assessed and YAP1 protein levels were also assessed by western blotting. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assays. The between-group differences were evaluated using the T-test and P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were no significant between-group differences in MST gene expression (P = 0.061); meanwhile, in the training group, LATS and Map4K expressions were suppressed, followed by a significant increase in YAP1 expression (P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the left ventricular weight increased significantly in the training group while the cardiomyocyte apoptosis decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that, by reducing LATS, aerobic training-induced YAP1 upregulation can help prevent the propagation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis due to pathological conditions.

Taurine with combined aerobic and resistance exercise training alleviates myocardium apoptosis in STZ-induced diabetes rats via Akt signaling pathway.

AIM: The aim of this study was considering the effects of taurine supplementation with combined aerobic and resistance training (CARE) on myocardial apoptosis and Protein Kinase B (akt) level changes in diabetic rat. MAIN METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided in to 5 groups of 8 animals in each: 1) control, 2) Diabetes Mellitus (DM), 3) DM with taurine supplementation (DM/T), 4) DM with CARE (DM/CARE), and 5) DM with combination of taurine and CARE (DM/T/CARE). DM was induced by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) and nicotine amid (NA) for 2, 3, 4 and 5 groups. Supplement groups received taurine in gavage, 100 mg/kg of body weight, 6 day per weeks, 8 weeks. CARE was performed at maximal speed and 1RM (40-60% of maximum for both). KEY FINDINGS: The results of this study showed that DM significantly increased blood glucose and caspase 3, caspase 9 expressions and apoptosis cells in heart tissue and reduced Akt expression (p < 0.001). However, taurine and CARE interventions significantly decreased apoptosis markers (caspase 3 and caspase 9) and significantly increased Akt in heart of diabetic rats compare to DM groups (p < 0.05). The highest improvement observed in DM/T/CARE group (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Based on these results, it seems that the use of taurine with combined aerobic and exercise training minimize the cardiac damage caused by diabetes (especially apoptosis) trough increasing protein kinase Akt expression. This could improve cardiac remodeling after diabetes. However, more research is needed, especially on the human samples.

Effect of combined endurance-resistance training and soy extract supplementation on expression of eNOS gene in ovariectomized rats.

INTRODUCTION: Menopause is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Physical exercise and soybean diets have been suggested to reduce the risk of CVD in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined resistance and endurance (RE) training and soy extract (SOY) supplementation, both known to improve endothelial function, on expression of the eNOS gene in the heart of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: 1) sham (SHAM); 2) ovariectomy (OVX); 3) ovariectomy with soy extract supplementation (OVX + SOY); 4) OVX with RE training (OVX + RE); 5) and ovariectomy plus RE training with soy extract supplementation (OVX + RE + SOY). RE training and soy extract supplementation were administered alone or in combination for 6 weeks. The effects of these treatments on cardiac eNOS expression were measured using real-time PCR. RESULTS: Ovariectomy down-regulated cardiac eNOS gene expression; however, 6 weeks of SOY treatment or RE training reversed this effect (p ≤ 0.05). The combination of SOY plus RE was greater than RE or SOY alone in reversing estrogen-deficiency-caused eNOS down-regulation (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the combinatory regimen of soy extract supplementation and regular RE training may be more beneficial to cardiovascular disease risk in a menopause rat model than either exercise or soy supplementation alone.

Effects of exercise prior or during pregnancy in high fat diet fed mice alter bone gene expression of female offspring: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Based on different studies it was shown that exercise training is an important factor in preconception and prenatal care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether regular preconception exercise training with or without exercise training during pregnancy decreases detrimental effects of maternal high fat diet on female offspring bone health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6 female mice were fed high-fat diet (35%) and were randomly divided into four groups: trained in preconception period and exercised during pregnancy (TE); trained in preconception periods but unexercised during pregnancy (TC); untrained in preconception periods but exercised during pregnancy (CE); untrained and unexercised (CC). Trained mice were subjected to a protocol of moderate endurance exercise training over a period of 4 weeks before pregnancy. TE and CE Dams groups had access to wheels throughout pregnancy until delivery. Analyses were performed on the female offspring that did not have access to running wheels or exercise training during any portion of their lives. The relative expression levels of ß-catenin, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Æ´ (PPARÆ´), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and Receptor activator of nuclear factor NF-kB ligand (RANKL) were determined by Quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR). RESULTS: Exercise during pregnancy in isolation had no effect on any measure genes but exercise both before and during pregnancy affected all genes. Exercise only before pregnancy increased ß-catenin and OPG and decreased PPARÆ´, RANKL, and RANKL/OPG ratio (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that maternal exercise training before and during pregnancy may modulate the risk of bone disorders in offspring of mothers fed a high-fat diet.

Preconception endurance training with voluntary exercise during pregnancy positively influences on remodeling markers in female offspring bone.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigate the effects of preconception endurance training with or without voluntary exercise during pregnancy on indices of bone formation and resorption in female offspring bone. METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into four groups: trained in preconception period and exercised during pregnancy (TE); trained in preconception periods but unexercised during pregnancy (TC); untrained in preconception periods but exercised during pregnancy (CE); untrained and unexercised (CC). Trained dams were subjected to a protocol of moderate exercise training over a period of 4 weeks before pregnancy. Analyses were performed on the adult female offspring that did not have access to running wheels in any portion of their lives. RESULTS: The OPG, Runx2, COLI, ALP, and OPN mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in offspring born to dams that was trained in preconception period. However, there was no significant difference in OPG, COLI, Runx2, and ALP expression in TE and TC offspring (p > 0.05). RANKL and osteocalcin expression were significantly down-regulated in TE offspring group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Improved physical fitness in preconception period results in significant changes in bone gene expressions of female offspring, in particular towards osteogenic responses with improved RANKL/OPG ratio.

Effect of zinc and selenium supplementation on serum testosterone and plasma lactate in cyclist after an exhaustive exercise bout.

Zinc and selenium are essential minerals and have roles for more than 300 metabolic reactions in the body. The purpose of this study was to investigate how exhaustive exercise affects testosterone levels and plasma lactate in cyclists who were supplemented with oral zinc and selenium for 4 weeks. For this reason, 32 male road cyclists were selected equally to four groups: PL group, placebo; Zn group, zinc supplement (30 mg/day); Se group, selenium supplement (200 µg/day); and Zn-Se group, zinc-selenium supplement. After treatment, free, total testosterone, and lactate levels of subjects were determined before and after exhaustive exercise. Resting total, free testosterone, and lactate levels did not differ significantly between groups, and were increased by exercise (P > 0.05). Serum total testosterone levels in Zn group were higher than in Se group after exercise (P < 0.05). Serum-free testosterone levels in the Zn group were higher than the other groups (P < 0.05).There was an insignificant difference between levels of lactate in the four groups after exercise (P > 0.05). The results showed that 4-week simultaneous and separately zinc and selenium supplementation had no significant effect on resting testosterone and lactate levels of subjects who consume a zinc and selenium sufficient diet. It might be possible that the effect of zinc supplementation on free testosterone depends on exercise.