© 1997 by European Society of Cardiology
Copyright © 1997, European Society of Cardiology
Spontaneous running increases aortic compliance in Wistar-Kyoto rats
Alfred and Baker Medical Unit, Baker Medical Research Institute, Commercial Road, Prahran 3181, Australia
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 3) 9276 2071; fax: +61 (3) 9276 3488/2495.
Objective: Previous studies in humans have found, using non-invasive methodology, that arterial compliance is elevated with exercise training. Forced exercise in animals has corroborated these findings, but the association of this type of exercise with psychological stressors limits its relevance to humans. We have investigated the effects of spontaneous running exercise from 4–20 weeks of age on aortic and mesenteric compliance and vascular reactivity in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Methods: Animals were killed using CO2 asphyxia and the aorta, mesentery and heart rapidly removed. The heart was dissected and weighed. The aorta was separated into 3 4-mm rings which were mounted on wires in organ baths for determination of compliance and vascular reactivity to noradrenaline, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. The slope of diameter–pressure relationship derived using Laplace's equation was used as an index of compliance. Results: During the final 2 weeks of training WKY rats ran an average of 7.9±1.0 km/24 h. Body weight was not affected by training. Training significantly increased the weight of the atria, left and right ventricles as well as total heart weight and left ventricular/body weight ratio. Aortic compliance was increased from 12.3±0.4 to 14.2±0.5 µm/mmHg (P<0.05) after training. There was no effect of training on aortic reactivity to noradrenaline, acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside. Conclusion: Exercise training increased intrinsic aortic compliance in WKY rats which provides evidence for a structural basis for the elevated compliance reported previously with 4 weeks of aerobic exercise in man.
KEYWORDS Compliance; Exercise; Vascular reactivity; Noradrenaline; Acetylcholine; Nitrates; Rat, arteries
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  T. M. Tinken, D. H. J. Thijssen, M. A. Black, N. T. Cable, and D. J. Green Time course of change in vasodilator function and capacity in response to exercise training in humans J. Physiol., October 15, 2008; 586(20): 5003 - 5012. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Boissiere, V. Eder, M.-C. Machet, D. Courteix, and P. Bonnet Moderate exercise training does not worsen left ventricle remodeling and function in untreated severe hypertensive rats J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2008; 104(2): 321 - 327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. E. Petersen, F. Wiesmann, L. E. Hudsmith, M. D. Robson, J. M. Francis, J. B. Selvanayagam, S. Neubauer, and K. M. Channon Functional and Structural Vascular Remodeling in Elite Rowers Assessed by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 15, 2006; 48(4): 790 - 797. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. R. Heerman, P. Segers, C. D. Roosens, F. Gasthuys, P. R. Verdonck, and J. I. Poelaert Echocardiographic assessment of aortic elastic properties with automated border detection in an ICU: in vivo application of the arctangent Langewouters model Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2005; 288(5): H2504 - H2511. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. J Green, A. Maiorana, G. O'Driscoll, and R. Taylor Effect of exercise training on endothelium-derived nitric oxide function in humans J. Physiol., November 15, 2004; 561(1): 1 - 25. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. A. Boreham, I. Ferreira, J. W. Twisk, A. M. Gallagher, M. J. Savage, and L. J. Murray Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and Arterial Stiffness: The Northern Ireland Young Hearts Project Hypertension, November 1, 2004; 44(5): 721 - 726. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. De Angelis, R. B. Wichi, W. R. A. Jesus, E. D. Moreira, M. Morris, E. M. Krieger, and M. C. Irigoyen Exercise training changes autonomic cardiovascular balance in mice J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2004; 96(6): 2174 - 2178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Maeda, T. Tanabe, T. Miyauchi, T. Otsuki, J. Sugawara, M. Iemitsu, S. Kuno, R. Ajisaka, I. Yamaguchi, and M. Matsuda Aerobic exercise training reduces plasma endothelin-1 concentration in older women J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2003; 95(1): 336 - 341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. J. Stewart Exercise Training and the Cardiovascular Consequences of Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension: Plausible Mechanisms for Improving Cardiovascular Health JAMA, October 2, 2002; 288(13): 1622 - 1631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. A. Lanfranchi and V. K Somers Arterial baroreflex function and cardiovascular variability: interactions and implications Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 2002; 283(4): R815 - R826. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. C. Brum, G. J. J. Da Silva, E. D. Moreira, F. Ida, C. E. Negrao, and E. M. Krieger Exercise Training Increases Baroreceptor Gain Sensitivity in Normal and Hypertensive Rats Hypertension, December 1, 2000; 36(6): 1018 - 1022. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A. Bertovic, T. K. Waddell, C. D. Gatzka, J. D. Cameron, A. M. Dart, and B. A. Kingwell Muscular Strength Training Is Associated With Low Arterial Compliance and High Pulse Pressure Hypertension, June 1, 1999; 33(6): 1385 - 1391. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Schachter and J. C. Sang Aortic leucine-to-glutamate pathway: metabolic route and regulation of contractile responses Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2002; 282(3): H1135 - H1148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|