Exercise training improves insulin-induced and insulin-like growth factor-1-induced vasorelaxation in rat aortas

Long-term treadmill training ameliorates endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation mediated by insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 in hypertension

Dysfunction of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is associated with the pathophysiology of hypertension. The influence of long-term exercise on vascular dysfunction caused by hypertension remains unclear. We investigated whether long-term treadmill training improved insulin- and IGF-1-mediated vasorelaxation in hypertensive rats. Eight-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly divided into sedentary and exercise (SHR-EX) groups. The SHR-EX group was trained on a treadmill for 60 min/day, 5 days/wk, for 8 wk. Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were used as the normal control group. After training, aortic insulin- and IGF-1-mediated vasorelaxation was evaluated in organ baths. Additionally, the roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and aortic protein expression were examined in the three groups. Compared with sedentary SHR and WKY groups, insulin- and IGF-1-mediated vasorelaxation was significantly enhanced to a nearly normal level in the SHR-EX group. After endothelial denudation, blunted and comparable vasorelaxation was found among the three groups. Pretreatment with selective PI3K and NOS inhibitors attenuated insulin- and IGF-1-mediated vasorelaxation, and no significant difference was found among the three groups after the pretreatment. The aortic protein levels of the insulin receptor (IR), IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and endothelial NOS (eNOS) were also significantly increased in the SHR-EX group compared with the other two groups. These results suggested that treadmill training elicited the amelioration of endothelium-dependent insulin/IGF-1-mediated vasorelaxation partly via the increased activation of PI3K and NOS, as well as the enhancement of protein levels of IR, IGF-1R, IRS-1, and eNOS, in hypertension.

Resistance exercise acutely enhances mesenteric artery insulin-induced relaxation in healthy rats

AIMS

We evaluated the mechanisms involved in insulin-induced vasodilatation after acute resistance exercise in healthy rats.

MAIN METHODS

Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control (CT), electrically stimulated (ES) and resistance exercise (RE). Immediately after acute RE (15 sets with 10 repetitions at 70% of maximal intensity), the animals were sacrificed and rings of mesenteric artery were mounted in an isometric system. After this, concentration-response curves to insulin were performed in control condition and in the presence of LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor), L-NAME (NOS inhibitor), L-NAME+TEA (K(+) channels inhibitor), LY294002+BQ123 (ET-A antagonist) or ouabain (Na(+)/K(+) ATPase inhibitor).

KEY FINDINGS

Acute RE increased insulin-induced vasorelaxation as compared to control (CT: Rmax=7.3 ± 0.4% and RE: Rmax=15.8 ± 0.8%; p<0.001). NOS inhibition reduced (p<0.001) this vasorelaxation from both groups (CT: Rmax=2.0 ± 0.3%, and RE: Rmax=-1.2 ± 0.1%), while PI3K inhibition abolished the vasorelaxation in CT (Rmax=-0.1±0.3%, p<0.001), and caused vasoconstriction in RE (Rmax=-6.5 ± 0.6%). That insulin-induced vasoconstriction on PI3K inhibition was abolished (p<0.001) by the ET-A antagonist (Rmax=2.9 ± 0.4%). Additionally, acute RE enhanced (p<0.001) the functional activity of the ouabain-sensitive Na(+)/K(+) ATPase activity (Rmax=10.7 ± 0.4%) and of the K(+) channels (Rmax=-6.1±0.5%; p<0.001) in the insulin-induced vasorelaxation as compared to CT.

SIGNIFICANCE

Such results suggest that acute RE promotes enhanced insulin-induced vasodilatation, which could act as a fine tuning to vascular tone.

Exercise training enhances cardiac IGFI-R/PI3K/Akt and Bcl-2 family associated pro-survival pathways in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

Increased myocyte apoptosis in diabetic hearts has been previously reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise training on cardiac survival pathways in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

METHODS

Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (Control), STZ-induced (65 mg/kg, i.p.) diabetes (DM), and DM rats with moderate aerobic exercise training (DM-EX) on a treadmill 60 min/day, 5 days/week, for 10 weeks. Histopathological analysis, positive TUNEL assays and Western blotting were performed on the excised cardiac left ventricles from all three groups.

RESULTS

The components of cardiac survival pathway (insulin-like growth factor I (IGFI), IGFI-receptor (IGFI-R), phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K), and Akt) and the pro-survival Bcl-2 family proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and p-BAD) were all significantly decreased in the DM group compared with the Control group whereas they were increased in the DM-EX group. In addition, the abnormal myocardial architecture, enlarged interstitial space and increased cardiac TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were observed in the DM group, but they were reduced in the DM-EX group. The apoptotic key component, caspase-3, was significantly increased in the DM group relative to the Control group whereas it was decreased in the DM-EX group.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise training enhances cardiac IGFI-R/PI3K/Akt and Bcl-2 family associated pro-survival pathways, which provides one of the new beneficial effects for exercise training in diabetes.

Effects of bench step exercise on arterial stiffness in post-menopausal women: contribution of IGF-1 bioactivity and nitric oxide production

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of bench step exercise on arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the associated contribution of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 bioactivity and nitric oxide (NO).

DESIGN

Twenty-six elderly (post-menopausal) women were randomly allocated to a bench step exercise group or a control group. The participants in the bench step exercise group practiced a 12-week home-based bench step exercise for 10-20min, 3 times daily (i.e., for a total of 140min/week at the intensity level of lactate threshold (LT)). In addition to conventional risk factors of atherosclerosis, PWV, IGF-1/IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 molar ratio (an index for IGF-1 bioactivity), and urinary nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) excretion were measured before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

BMI, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LT, and PWV were significantly improved in the bench step exercise group. A significant positive correlation between changes in PWV and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio, and a significant negative correlation between changes in IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio and urinary NO(x) excretion were found in the bench step exercise group.

CONCLUSION

The bench step exercise leads to improvements in not only the classical risk factors of atherosclerosis but also the arterial stiffness in elderly women, partly through NO production via IGF-1 bioactivity.

A prospective evaluation of non-interval- and interval-based exercise training progressions in rodents

Non-interval and interval training progressions were used to determine (i) the mean rate at which treadmill speed could be incremented daily using a non-interval training progression to train rats to run continuously at different intensities and (ii) the number of training days required for rats to run continuously at different exercise intensities with non-interval- and interval-based training progressions to establish methods of progressive overload for rodent exercise training studies. Rats were randomly assigned to mild-intensity (n = 5, 20 m·min(-1), 5% grade), moderate-intensity (n = 5, 30 m·min(-1), 5% grade), and heavy-intensity non-interval groups (n = 5, 40 m·min(-1), 5% grade) or a heavy-intensity interval (n = 5, 40 m·min(-1), 5% grade) group and ran 5 days·week(-1) for 6 weeks. Non-interval training involved a daily increase of treadmill speed, whereas interval training involved a daily increase of interval time, until the animal could run continuously at a prescribed intensity. In mild-, moderate-, and heavy-intensity non-interval-trained rats, treadmill speed was increased by 0.6 ± 0.7 m·min(-1)·day(-1), 0.6 ± 0.2 m·min(-1)·day(-1), and 0.8 ± 0.1 m·min(-1)·day(-1), respectively. Target training intensity and duration were obtained following 0.4 ± 0.5 days, 17 ± 3 days, and 23 ± 3 training days (p < 0.05) in mild-, moderate-, and heavy-intensity groups, respectively. In contrast, interval-trained rodents required 11 ± 1 training days. These data demonstrate that rodents will tolerate an increase in treadmill speed of ∼0.7 ± 0.1 m·min(-1)·day(-1) and that this progression enables rats to run continuously at moderate and heavy intensities with 3-4 weeks of progressive overload. Interval training significantly reduces the number of training days required to attain a target intensity.

The link between erectile and cardiovascular health: the canary in the coal mine

Lifestyle and nutrition have been increasingly recognized as central factors influencing vascular nitric oxide (NO) production and erectile function. This review underscores the importance of NO as the principal mediator influencing cardiovascular health and erectile function. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is associated with smoking, excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity, abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and decreased antioxidant defenses, all of which reduce NO production. Better lifestyle choices; physical exercise; improved nutrition and weight control; adequate intake of or supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, calcium, and folic acid; and replacement of any testosterone deficiency will all improve vascular and erectile function and the response to phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, which also increase vascular NO production. More frequent penile-specific exercise improves local endothelial NO production. Excessive intake of vitamin E, calcium, l-arginine, or l-citrulline may impart significant cardiovascular risks. Interventions discussed also lower blood pressure or prevent hypertension. Certain angiotensin II receptor blockers improve erectile function and reduce oxidative stress. In men aged <60 years and in men with diabetes or hypertension, erectile dysfunction can be a critical warning sign for existing or impending cardiovascular disease and risk for death. The antiarrhythmic effect of omega-3 fatty acids may be particularly crucial for these men at greatest risk for sudden death. In conclusion, by better understanding the complex factors influencing erectile and overall vascular health, physicians can help their patients prevent vascular disease and improve erectile function, which provides more immediate motivation for men to improve their lifestyle habits and cardiovascular health.

Aerobic exercise acutely improves insulin- and insulin-like growth factor-1-mediated vasorelaxation in hypertensive rats

Limited information is available concerning the effects of aerobic exercise on vasorelaxation in hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise on insulin- and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-induced vasorelaxation in hypertensive rats. Four-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into a sedentary group (SHR) and an exercise group (SHR+Ex) subjected to a single bout of aerobic exercise conducted by treadmill running at 21 m min(1) for 1 h. Age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as a normotensive control group (WKY). Insulin- and IGF-1-induced vasorelaxant responses in the three groups were evaluated by using isolated aortic rings, with or without endothelial denudation, in organ baths. Possible roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) involved in the NO-dependent vasorelaxation were examined by adding selective inhibitors. The role of superoxide was also clarified by adding superoxide dismutase (SOD). In addition, the endothelium-independent vascular responses to sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, were examined. The insulin- and IGF-1-induced vasorelaxation was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the SHR group compared with the WKY group. This decreased response in SHR was improved by exercise. These vasorelaxant responses among the three groups became similar after endothelial denudation and pretreatment with the PI3K inhibitor, NOS inhibitor or SOD. Also, no difference among groups was found in the SNP-induced vasorelaxation. We concluded that a single bout of aerobic exercise acutely improves insulin- and IGF-1-mediated vasorelaxation in an endothelium-dependent manner in hypertensive rats.

Dissociation between metabolic and vascular insulin resistance in aging

Physiological actions of insulin via activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway in the endothelium serve to couple regulation of hemodynamic and metabolic homeostasis. Insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and hypertension increase in prevalence with aging. We investigated the metabolic and endothelial actions of insulin in 24- vs. 3-mo Sprague-Dawley rats. With the use of the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, the rate of glucose infusion necessary to maintain equivalent plasma glucose (5.5 mmol/l) was similar in 24- vs. 3-mo rats, as was fasting glucose (5.2 +/- 0.33 vs. 4.4 +/- 0.37 mmol/l; mean +/- SE) and insulin (0.862 +/- 0.193 vs. 1.307 +/- 0.230 mg/l). Systolic blood pressure was higher in 24-mo rats (133 +/- 5 vs. 110 +/- 4 mmHg; P = 0.005). Endothelial nitric oxide (NO)-dependent relaxation to insulin was impaired in aortas of 24- vs. 3-mo rats (maximal response 8.9 +/- 4.3 vs. 34.9 +/- 3.9%; P = 0.002); N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester abolished insulin-mediated relaxation in 3- but not 24-mo rats. Endothelium NO-dependent (acetylcholine) and -independent (sodium nitroprusside) relaxation, as well as NADPH oxidase activity, were similar in 3- and 24-mo rats. Insulin increased aortic serine phosphorylation of Akt in 3-mo rats by 120% over 24-mo rats (P < 0.05) and serine phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in 3-mo rats by 380% over 24-mo rats (P < 0.05). Aortic expression of phosphorylated c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase-1 and serine phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1, known mediators of metabolic insulin resistance, was similar in 3- and 24-mo rats. Expression of caveolin-1, a regulator of eNOS activity and insulin signaling, was 55% lower in 24- than 3-mo rats (P = 0.002). In summary, impaired vasorelaxation to insulin in aging was independent of metabolic insulin sensitivity and associated with impaired insulin-mediated activation of the Akt/eNOS pathway, but intact activation of the acetylcholine-mediated Ca(2+)-calmodulin/eNOS pathway. Vascular insulin resistance in aging may add to the increased susceptibility of this population to vascular injury induced by traditional cardiovascular risk factors.