Aerobic exercise attenuates dysautonomia, cardiac diastolic dysfunctions, and hemodynamic overload in female mice with atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular risk increases during the aging process in women with atherosclerosis and exercise training is a strategy for management of cardiac risks in at-risk populations. Therefore, the aims of this study were to evaluate: (1) the influence of the aging process on cardiac function, hemodynamics, cardiovascular autonomic modulation, and baroreflex sensitivity in females with atherosclerosis at the onset of reproductive senescence; and (2) the impact of exercise training on age-related dysfunctions in this model. Eighteen Apolipoprotein-E knockout female mice were divided equally into young (Y), middle-aged (MA), and trained middle-aged (MAT). Echocardiographic exams were performed to verify cardiac morphology and function. Cannulation for direct recording of blood pressure and heart rate, and analysis of cardiovascular autonomic modulation, baroreflex sensitivity were performed. The MA had lower cardiac diastolic function (E'/A' ratio), and higher aortic thickness, heart rate and mean arterial pressure, lower heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity compared with Y. There were no differences between Y and MAT in these parameters. Positive correlation coefficients were found between aortic wall thickness with hemodynamics data. The aging process causes a series of deleterious effects such as hemodynamic overload and dysautonomia in female with atherosclerosis. Exercise training was effective in mitigating aged-related dysfunctions.

Concurrent exercise training potentiates the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on regulatory systems of blood pressure control in ovariectomized hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: Enalapril has shown satisfactory potential in controlling increased and sustained blood pressure (BP). However, multiple dysregulated mechanisms that interact with each other and are involved in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension may not be affected, contributing to the remaining cardiovascular risk. Using an exercise training protocol, we investigated whether adding both approaches to arterial hypertension management could promote higher modulation of regulatory mechanisms of BP in postmenopausal rats. METHODS: Spontaneously hypertensive rats were allocated into sedentary (S) and ovariectomized groups: sedentary (OS), sedentary treated with enalapril maleate (OSE) and trained treated with enalapril maleate (OTE). Both the pharmacological and exercise training protocols lasted for 8 weeks. The BP was directly recorded. Inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated in the cardiac tissue. RESULTS: Although BP reduction was similar between OSE and OTE, trained group showed lower vasopressor systems outflow after sympathetic ganglion blocking by hexamethonium (mean BP) (OTE: -53.7 ±â€Š9.86 vs. OS: -75.7 ±â€Š19.2 mmHg). Bradycardic and tachycardic response were increased in OTE group (-1.4 ±â€Š0.4 and -2.6 ±â€Š0.4 vs. OS: -0.6 ±â€Š0.3 and -1.3 ±â€Š0.4 bpm/mmHg, respectively), as well as BP variability. In addition, the combination of approaches induced an increase in interleukin 10, antioxidant defense (catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and nitrite levels compared with the OS group. CONCLUSION: Despite similar BP, the inclusion of exercise training in antihypertensive drug treatment exacerbates the positive adaptations induced by enalapril alone on autonomic, inflammatory and oxidative stress profiles, probably affecting end-organ damage and remaining risk.

Impacto do treinamento físico no perfil inflamatório e redox renal no desenvolvimento de síndrome metabólica / Impact of exercise training on inflammatory and redox renal profiles in metabolic syndrome development

Objetivo: Investigar o efeito do treinamento físico aeróbio (TF) no perfil inflamatório e de estresse oxidativo renal em modelo experimental de desenvolvimento de síndrome metabólica (SM). Métodos: Ratos Wistar e espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR) distribuídos nos grupos: controle (C), hipertenso (H), hipertenso frutose (HF) e hipertenso frutose treinado (HFT). Os grupos HF e HFT foram submetidos à sobrecarga de frutose (10%, 60 dias) desde o desmame. O TF foi realizado em esteira por 60 dias (5dias/semana, 40-60% velocidade máxima do teste de esforço). Resultados: O TF promoveu redução de ânion superóxido, peróxido de hidrogênio e proteínas oxidadas comparado ao grupo HF. Além disso, o grupo HFT apresentou aumento de FRAP e nitritos comparado aos grupos H e HF. No perfil inflamatório, o TF proporcionou aumento de IL-10 e redução da razão TNFα/IL-10. Conclusão: Os resultados demostraram que o treinamento aeróbio atenuou o estresse oxidativo e favoreceu um perfil anti-inflamatório no tecido renal em um modelo de desenvolvimento de SM.

Objective: To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise training (ET) on renal inflammatory and oxidative stress profiles in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome (MS) development. Methods: Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats were distributed into control (C), hypertensive (H), hypertensive fructose (HF) and trained hypertensive fructose (THF) groups. The HF and THF groups were submitted to fructose overload (10%, 60 days) since weaning. The ET was performed on a treadmill for 60 days (5 days/week, 40-60% maximum speed of the exercise test). Results: The ET promoted reduction in renal superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and oxidized proteins compared to the HF group. In addition, the THF group showed an increase in FRAP and in nitrites compared to the H and HF groups. In the inflammatory profile, ET provided an increase in IL-10 and a reduction in TNFα/IL-10 ratio. Conclusion: The results showed that aerobic training attenuated oxidative stress and favored an anti-inflammatory profile in renal tissue in a model of MS development.

Protective Role of UCP2 in Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis during the Silent Phase of an Experimental Model of Epilepsy Induced by Pilocarpine.

Neuroprotection is a desirable process in many neurological disorders, yet complex mechanisms involved in this field are not completely understood. The pilocarpine epilepsy model causes potent, seizure-induced excitotoxicity cell death and mitochondria impairment. The present study is aimed at investigating the role of UCP2, a ROS negative regulator, in the neuroprotection after cholinergic insult. Our data demonstrated that UCP2 expression was augmented in the rat hippocampus 3 days after status epilepticus (SE), reaching a peak on the fifth day, then returning to basal levels. Concomitantly, phospho-AKT expression levels were higher in the hippocampus during the early silent phase (5 days after SE). Additionally, it was demonstrated that the blockade of UCP2 by antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) in SE rats successfully diminished both UCP2 mRNA and protein contents. SE ASO rats presented increased mitochondrial proapoptotic factor expression, caspase-3 activity, inflammatory cytokine expression, and ROS formation. Moreover, ASO treatment diminished p-AKT expression and antioxidant enzyme activities after pilocarpine insult. In conclusion, the present results highlight the neuroprotective actions of UCP2, acting in the inhibition of apoptotic factors and oxidative stress, to increase neuron survival after SE onset.