Beneficial Effects of Physical Exercise on Functional Capacity and Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Stress in Rats with Aortic Stenosis-Induced Heart Failure

Abstract EN

Objective.

We evaluated the influence of exercise on functional capacity, cardiac remodeling, and skeletal muscle oxidative stress, MAPK, and NF-κB pathway in rats with aortic stenosis- (AS-) induced heart failure (HF).

Methods and Results.

Eighteen weeks after AS induction, rats were assigned into sedentary control (C-Sed), exercised control (C-Ex), sedentary AS (AS-Sed), and exercised AS (AS-Ex) groups.

Exercise was performed on treadmill for eight weeks.

Statistical analyses were performed with Goodman and ANOVA or Mann-Whitney.

HF features frequency and mortality did not differ between AS groups.

Exercise improved functional capacity, assessed by maximal exercise test on treadmill, without changing echocardiographic parameters.

Soleus cross-sectional areas did not differ between groups.

Lipid hydroperoxide concentration was higher in AS-Sed than C-Sed and AS-Ex.

Activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase was changed in AS-Sed and restored in AS-Ex.

NADPH oxidase activity and gene expression of its subunits did not differ between AS groups.

Total ROS generation was lower in AS-Ex than C-Ex.

Exercise modulated MAPK in AS-Ex and did not change NF-κB pathway proteins.

Conclusion.

Exercise improves functional capacity in rats with AS-induced HF regardless of echocardiographic parameter changes.

In soleus, exercise reduces oxidative stress, preserves antioxidant enzyme activity, and modulates MAPK expression.