Improvement of the physical performance is associated with activation of NO/PGC-1α/mtTFA signaling pathway and increased protein expressions of electron transport chain in gastrocnemius muscle from rats supplemented with L-arginine.

AIM: To examine the influence of l-arginine supplementation in combination with physical training on mitochondrial biomarkers from gastrocnemius muscle and its relationship with physical performance. MAIN METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control sedentary (SD), sedentary supplemented with l-arginine (SDLA), trained (TR) and trained supplemented with l-arginine (TRLA). Supplementation of l-arginine was administered by gavage (62.5mg/ml/day/rat). Physical training consisted of 60min/day, 5days/week, 0% grade, speed of 1.2km/h. The study lasted 8weeks. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial enriched fraction as well as cytoplasmic fractions were obtained for Western blotting and biochemical analyses. Protein expressions of transcriptor coactivator (PGC-1α), transcriptor factors (mtTFA), ATP synthase subunit c, cytochrome oxidase (COXIV), constitutive nitric oxide synthases (eNOS and nNOS), Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and manganese-SOD (Mn-SOD) were evaluated. We also assessed in plasma: lipid profile, glycemia and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The nitrite/nitrate (NOx(-)) levels were measured in both plasma and cytosol fraction of the gastrocnemius muscle. KEY FINDINGS: 8-week l-arginine supplementation associated with physical training was effective in promoting greater tolerance to exercise that was accompanied by up-regulation of the protein expressions of mtTFA, PGC-1α, ATP synthase subunit c, COXIV, Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. The upstream pathway was associated with improvement of NO bioavailability, but not in NO production since no changes in nNOS or eNOS protein expressions were observed. SIGNIFICANCE: This combination would be an alternative approach for preventing cardiometabolic diseases given that in overt diseases a profound impairment in the physical performance of the patients is observed.

Signaling function of Na,K-ATPase induced by ouabain against LPS as an inflammation model in hippocampus.

BACKGROUND: Ouabain (OUA) is a newly recognized hormone that is synthesized in the adrenal cortex and hypothalamus. Low doses of OUA can activate a signaling pathway by interaction with Na,K-ATPase, which is protective against a number of insults. OUA has central and peripheral anti-inflammatory effects. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), via toll-like receptor 4 activation, is a widely used model to induce systemic inflammation. This study used a low OUA dose to evaluate its effects on inflammation induced by LPS injection in rats. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats received acute intraperitoneal (ip) OUA (1.8 µg/kg) or saline 20 minutes before LPS (200 µg/kg, ip) or saline injection. Some of the animals had their femoral artery catheterized in order to assess arterial blood pressure values before and after OUA administration. Na,K-ATPase activity, cytokine mRNA levels, apoptosis-related proteins, NF-κB activation brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF, corticosterone and TNF-α levels were measured. RESULTS: OUA pretreatment decreased mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and IL-1ß, which are activated by LPS in the hippocampus, but with no effect on serum measures of these factors. None of these OUA effects were linked to Na,K-ATPase activity. The involvement of the inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB in the OUA effect was indicated by its prevention of LPS-induced nuclear translocation of the NF-κB subunit, RELA (p65), as well as the decreased cytosol levels of the NF-κB inhibitor, IKB, in the hippocampus. OUA pretreatment reversed the LPS-induced glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) activation and associated inflammation in the dentate gyrus. OUA also prevented LPS-induced increases in the hippocampal Bax/Bcl2 ratio suggesting an anti-apoptotic action in the brain. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a low dose of OUA has an important anti-inflammatory effect in the rat hippocampus. This effect was associated with decreased GFAP induction by LPS in the dentate gyrus, a brain area linked to adult neurogenesis.

Pancreatic islets isolated from ß2 adrenergic receptor knockout mice show reduced insulin secretion in response to nutrients / Ilhotas pancreáticas isoladas de camundongos com deleção do receptor adrenérgico ß2 apresenta reduzida secreção de insulina em resposta a nutrientes

Activation of ß2 adrenergic receptors by catecholamine or catecholamine-mimetic substances may enhance insulin secretion. We herein investigated KCl- and nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic islets isolated from ß2 knockout (ß2KO) mice. ß2KO mice showed reduced body weight, fasting hypoglycaemia associate to a similar fasting insulinemia compared to control. ß2KO mice also showed reduced glucose tolerance despite the higher sensitivity to insulin. Glucose-induced insulin secretion was impaired in pancreatic islets isolated from ß2KO mice. Leucine-induced (20mM) insulin secretion was diminished in pancreatic islets isolated from ß 2KO mice when compared to control one. The depolarizing effect of KCl on insulin secretion was also impaired in pancreatic islets from ß2KO mice. These results suggested a possible role of ß2 adrenergic receptors on nutrient-induced insulin secretion.

A ativação dos receptores ß2-adrenérgicos por catecolaminas ou miméticos a catecolaminas podem aumentar a secreção de insulina. Nós investigamos a secreção de insulina estimulada por nutrients e KCl em ilhotas pancreáticas isoladas de camundongos com deleção dos receptores ß2-adrenérgicos (ß2KO). Camudongos ß2KO apresentaram reduzido peso corporal, hipoglicemia de jejum associada a semelhante concentração de insulina plasmática de jejum comparada ao grupo controle. Camundongos ß2KO apesar de apresentarem aumento da sensibilidade a insulina também apresentaram reduzida tolerância a glicose. A secreção de insulina induzida com glicose foi alterada em ilhotas pancreáticas isoladas de camundongos ß2KO. Secreção de insulina induzida por leucina (20mM) foi diminuída em ilhotas pancreáticas isoladas de camundongos ß2KO quando comparado ao controle. O efeito despolarizante do KCl sobre a secreção de insulina também foi alterado em ilhotas pancreáticas de camundongos ß2KO. Estes resultados sugerem um possível papel dos receptores ß2-adrenérgicos na secreção de insulina induzida por nutrientes.

Beneficial effects of physical training on the cardio-inflammatory disorder induced by lung ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

Our laboratory demonstrated that training program attenuated the inflammatory responses in lung ischemia/reperfusion (IR). Considering the importance of the inflammatory responses on the cardiovascular system, we evaluate the effect of physical training on the vascular responsiveness and its underlying mechanism after lung IR. Male Wistar rats were submitted to run training and lung IR. Concentration-response curves for relaxing and contracting agents were obtained. Protein expressions of SOD-1 and p47(phox), plasma nitritre/nitrate (NO (x) (-) ) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were evaluated. A decreased in the potency for acetylcholine and phenylephrine associated with an upregulation of the p47(phox) expression were found after Lung IR as well as an increase in IL-6 and NO (x) (-) levels. Run training attenuated the vascular dysfunction that was accompanied by reduction of the p47(phox) protein expression and IL-6 levels. Our findings show the beneficial effect of training on the vascular function that was associated with reduction in inflammatory response in lung IR.

Fenofibrate and pioglitazone do not ameliorate the altered vascular reactivity in aorta of isoproterenol-treated rats.

Chronic stimulation of beta-adrenoceptors with isoproterenol induces alteration of vascular reactivity and increases local pro-inflammatory cytokines. We investigated whether fenofibrate and pioglitazone, PPAR-alpha and -gamma agonists, respectively, improve the changes in vascular reactivity induced by isoproterenol. Wistar rats received isoproterenol (0.3 mg x kg x day, SC) or vehicle (CT) plus fenofibrate (alpha, 100 mg x kg x day, PO), pioglitazone (gamma, 2.5 mg.kg.day, PO), or water for 7 days. In aortas, isoproterenol treatment enhanced the maximal response (Rmax) to phenylephrine (10 to 10 M) compared to CT as previously demonstrated. The effects of endothelium removal (E-) or L-NAME incubation (100 microM) on the phenylephrine response were smaller in isoproterenol-treated animals compared to CT while superoxide dismutase (SOD, 150 U/mL) significantly reduced the Rmax to phenylephrine to CT levels. Neither fenofibrate nor pioglitazone changed the effects induced by isoproterenol in aorta. E-, L-NAME, or SOD effects were similar between CTalpha and CT. However, pioglitazone per se increased Rmax to phenylephrine (CT: 59 +/- 4 versus CTgamma: 72 +/- 5 % of contraction to KCl). E- or L-NAME effects were reduced in CTgamma compared to CT, and SOD normalized the altered reactivity to phenylephrine in the CTgamma group. In conclusion, neither fenofibrate nor pioglitazone ameliorates the altered vascular reactivity present in aorta from isoproterenol-treated rats. Moreover, pioglitazone per se induced endothelial dysfunction and increased phenylephrine-induced contraction in aorta.

Exercise training improves relaxation response and SOD-1 expression in aortic and mesenteric rings from high caloric diet-fed rats.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been associated with a variety of disease such as type II diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Evidences have shown that exercise training promotes beneficial effects on these disorders, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether physical preconditioning prevents the deleterious effect of high caloric diet in vascular reactivity of rat aortic and mesenteric rings. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (SD); trained (TR); sedentary diet (SDD) and trained diet (TRD) groups. Run training (RT) was performed in sessions of 60 min, 5 days/week for 12 weeks (70-80% VO2max). Triglycerides, glucose, insulin and nitrite/nitrate concentrations (NOx-) were measured. Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were obtained. Expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) was assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS: High caloric diet increased triglycerides concentration (SDD: 216 +/- 25 mg/dl) and exercise training restored to the baseline value (TRD: 89 +/- 9 mg/dl). Physical preconditioning significantly reduced insulin levels in both groups (TR: 0.54 +/- 0.1 and TRD: 1.24 +/- 0.3 ng/ml) as compared to sedentary animals (SD: 0.87 +/- 0.1 and SDD: 2.57 +/- 0.3 ng/ml). On the other hand, glucose concentration was slightly increased by high caloric diet, and RT did not modify this parameter (SD: 126 +/- 6; TR: 140 +/- 8; SDD: 156 +/- 8 and TRD 153 +/- 9 mg/dl). Neither high caloric diet nor RT modified NOx- levels (SD: 27 +/- 4; TR: 28 +/- 6; SDD: 27 +/- 3 and TRD: 30 +/- 2 microM). Functional assays showed that high caloric diet impaired the relaxing response to ACh in mesenteric (about 13%), but not in aortic rings. RT improved the relaxing responses to ACh either in aortic (28%, for TR and 16%, to TRD groups) or mesenteric rings (10%, for TR and 17%, to TRD groups) that was accompanied by up-regulation of SOD-1 expression and reduction in triglycerides levels. CONCLUSION: The improvement in endothelial function by physical preconditioning in mesenteric and aortic arteries from high caloric fed-rats was directly related to an increase in NO bioavailability to the smooth muscle mostly due to SOD-1 up regulation.