Cardiac β-adrenergic responsiveness with exercise

The mitochondrial signaling peptide MOTS-c improves myocardial performance during exercise training in rats

Cardiac remodeling is a physiological adaptation to aerobic exercise and which is characterized by increases in ventricular volume and the number of cardiomyocytes. The mitochondrial derived peptide MOTS-c functions as an important regulator in physical capacity and performance. Exercise elevates levels of endogenous MOTS-c in circulation and in myocardium, while MOTS-c can significantly enhance exercise capacity. However, the effects of aerobic exercise combined with MOTS-c on cardiac structure and function are unclear. We used pressure–volume conductance catheter technique to examine cardiac function in exercised rats with and without treatment with MOTS-c. Surprisingly, MOTS-c improved myocardial mechanical efficiency, enhanced cardiac systolic function, and had a tendency to improve the diastolic function. The findings suggest that using exercise supplements could be used to modulate the cardiovascular benefits of athletic training.

The Effect of Exercise Training on Myocardial and Skeletal Muscle Metabolism by MR Spectroscopy in Rats with Heart Failure

The metabolism and performance of myocardial and skeletal muscle are impaired in heart failure (HF) patients. Exercise training improves the performance and benefits the quality of life in HF patients. The purpose of the present study was to determine the metabolic profiles in myocardial and skeletal muscle in HF and exercise training using MRS, and thus to identify targets for clinical MRS in vivo. After surgically establishing HF in rats, we randomized the rats to exercise training programs of different intensities. After the final training session, rats were sacrificed and tissues from the myocardial and skeletal muscle were extracted. Magnetic resonance spectra were acquired from these extracts, and principal component and metabolic enrichment analysis were used to assess the differences in metabolic profiles. The results indicated that HF affected myocardial metabolism by changing multiple metabolites, whereas it had a limited effect on skeletal muscle metabolism. Moreover, exercise training mainly altered the metabolite distribution in skeletal muscle, indicating regulation of metabolic pathways of taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and carnitine synthesis.

Acompanhamento eletrocardiográfico no desenvolvimento de ratos Wistar

RESUMO A atividade elétrica cardíaca pode ser registrada por meio do eletrocardiograma (ECG), registro capaz de captar as alterações do percurso elétrico. Na literatura científica, não existe descrição de padrões eletrocardiográficos de ratos Wistar desde a fase de recém-nascidos até serem considerados envelhecidos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o padrão eletrocardiográfico de ratos Wistar desde a fase de recém-nascidos até serem considerados envelhecidos, no intuito de que os resultados possam contribuir como referencial dos padrões da espécie. Foram utilizados ratos Rattus novergicus albinus, da linhagem Wistar. Os ratos foram divididos em cinco grupos experimentais, sendo definidos de acordo com a idade e assim denominados: grupo 21 dias (21D), dois meses (2M), três meses (3M), sete meses (7M) e 18 meses (18M), sendo n=20 por grupo. Para a realização do ECG, eletrodos conectados aos canais do eletrocardiógrafo foram posicionados nos animais e captaram o sinal elétrico do coração em seis derivações. Os dados foram agrupados e submetidos a comparação por meio de ANOVA e teste de Tukey-Kramer, P≤0,05. Os resultados mostraram que, de forma geral, as modulações ao longo do processo de envelhecimento diante dos parâmetros relacionados ao ECG se iniciam a partir do período 2M, com aparente estabilidade até 3M e/ou 7M, seguindo por exacerbação das modulações em 7M e/ou 18M, a depender da variável eletrocardiográfica em questão. Em relação à frequência cardíaca (FC), concomitantemente, nota-se um padrão similar, ou seja, diminuição dela a partir do período 2M, com estabilidade até 7M, seguindo por diminuição mais pronunciada em 18M. Os resultados sugerem que, devido ao processo de envelhecimento, o coração de ratos Wistar apresenta modificações na condução do estímulo elétrico, bem como redução na FC, fatores que merecem atenção enquanto indicadores de inclusão/exclusão de animais em grupos experimentais por parte de pesquisadores que utilizam a referida espécie como modelo de estudo.

Physical activity ameliorates cardiovascular health in elderly subjects: the functional role of the β adrenergic system

Aging is a complex process characterized by a gradual decline in organ functional reserves, which eventually reduces the ability to maintain homeostasis. An exquisite feature of elderly subjects, which constitute a growing proportion of the world population, is the high prevalence of cardiovascular disorders, which negatively affect both the quality of life and the life expectancy. It is widely acknowledged that physical activity represents one of the foremost interventions capable in reducing the health burden of cardiovascular disease. Interestingly, the benefits of moderate-intensity physical activity have been established both in young and elderly subjects. Herein we provide a systematic and updated appraisal of the literature exploring the pathophysiological mechanisms evoked by physical activity in the elderly, focusing on the functional role of the β adrenergic system.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase is indispensable for the cardiac adaptive effects of exercise

Exercise results in beneficial adaptations of the heart that can be directly observed at the ventricular myocyte level. However, the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for these adaptations are not well understood. Interestingly, signaling via neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) within myocytes results in similar effects as exercise. Thus, the objective was to define the role NOS1 plays in the exercise-induced beneficial contractile effects in myocytes. After an 8-week aerobic interval training program, exercise-trained (Ex) mice had higher VO(2max) and cardiac hypertrophy compared to sedentary (Sed) mice. Ventricular myocytes from Ex mice had increased NOS1 expression and nitric oxide production compared to myocytes from Sed mice. Remarkably, acute NOS1 inhibition normalized the enhanced contraction (shortening and Ca(2+) transients) in Ex myocytes to Sed levels. The NOS1 effect on contraction was mediated via greater Ca(2+) cycling that resulted from increased phospholamban phosphorylation. Intriguingly, a similar aerobic interval training program on NOS1 knockout mice failed to produce any beneficial cardiac adaptations (VO(2max), hypertrophy, and contraction). These data demonstrate that the beneficial cardiac adaptations observed after exercise training were mediated via enhanced NOS1 signaling. Therefore, it is likely that beneficial effects of exercise may be mimicked by the interventions that increase NOS1 signaling. This pathway may provide a potential novel therapeutic target in cardiac patients who are unable or unwilling to exercise.