Treatment with nebivolol combined with physical training promotes improvements in the cardiovascular responses of hypertensive rats

Preconditioning by Moderate-Intensity Exercise Prevents Gentamicin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

A strict correlation among proximal tubule epithelial cell dysfunction, proteinuria, and modulation of the Renin-Angiotensin System and Kalikrein-Kinin System are crucial factors in the pathogenesis of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of preconditioning by moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on gentamicin-induced AKI. Male Wistar rats were submitted to a moderate-intensity treadmill exercise protocol for 8 weeks, and then injected with 80 mg/kg/day s.c. gentamicin for 5 consecutive days. Four groups were generated: 1) NT+SAL (control); 2) NT+AKI (non-trained with AKI); 3) T+SAL (trained); and 4) T+AKI (trained with AKI). The NT+AKI group presented: 1) impairment in glomerular function parameters; 2) increased fractional excretion of Na + , K + , and water; 4) proteinuria and increased urinary γ-glutamyl transferase activity (a marker of tubular injury) accompanied by acute tubular necrosis; 5) an increased renal angiotensin-converting enzyme and bradykinin B1 receptor mRNA expression. Interestingly, the preconditioning by moderate-intensity aerobic exercise attenuated all alterations observed in gentamicin-induced AKI (T+AKI group). Taken together, our results show that the preconditioning by moderate-intensity aerobic exercise ameliorates the development of gentamicin-induced AKI. Our findings help to expand the current knowledge regarding the effect of physical exercise on kidneys during physiological and pathological conditions.

Direct renin inhibitor therapy and swimming training: hemodynamic and cardiac effects in hypertensive and normotensive rats

PURPOSE

This study aimed to analyze the hemodynamic and cardiac effects of direct renin inhibitor (DRI) treatment and swimming training in hypertensive rats.

METHODS

Seventy-seven rats were divide into eight groups: sedentary normotensive (SN), trained normotensive (TN), sedentary normotensive treated with DRI (SN_DRI), trained normotensive treated with DRI (TN_DRI), sedentary hypertensive (SH), trained hypertensive (TH), sedentary hypertensive treated with DRI (SH_DRI), trained hypertensive treated with DRI (TH_DRI). Swimming training occurred for up to 60 min, five times a week for four weeks. The hypertensive animals were treated with 20 mg ċ kg(-1) ċ day(-1) L-NAME for four weeks. Groups treated with DRI received 10 mg ċ kg(-1) ċ day(-1) of aliskiren for four weeks. After the treatment period, all the animals underwent femoral artery catheterization surgery for direct measurement of cardiovascular variables.

RESULTS

The SH group presented hypertension (136.4 ± 5.0 mmHg) compared to the SN (107.1 ± 1.7 mmHg). The TH group showed lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) than the SH (121.1 ± 1.3 mmHg), but the treatment with DRI did not attenuate hypertension (128.2 ± 4.9 mmHg). The analysis of collagen areas demonstrated that treatment with DRI may attenuate cardiac remodeling in situations of hypertension, in the condition of treatment alone or combined with physical training.

CONCLUSION

Both interventions in combination may be more effective at reducing cardiovascular risk in hypertensive subjects.