Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2011) 26 P581

ECE2011 Poster Presentations Cardiovascular endocrinology and lipid metabolism (34 abstracts)

Long term recreational physical exercise decreases angina susceptibility and induces cardiovascular protective shifts in nitric oxide synthase, heme oxygenase and matrix metalloproteinase enzyme regulation in rats

R Szabó 1 , A Pósa 1 , Z Szalai 1 , P Szablics 2 , C S Varga 1 , A M Berkó 1 , K Orbán 2 & F László 1,


1Department of Physiology, Anatomy, Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Csongrad, Hungary; 2Institute of Physical Education and Sport, Gyula Juhász Faculty of Education, University of Szeged, Szeged, Szeged, Csongrad, Hungary.


Introduction: Physical inactivity, i.e. sedentary life style increases circulatory disease risk. Carbon monoxide and nitric oxide produced by the heme oxygenase (HO) and by the constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) protect circulation. In contrast, the enhanced level of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) augments cardiovascular risks. We examined the actions of recreational physical exercise on the expression of these enzyme systems in conjunction with cardiovascular protection.

Design: Male Wistar rats were placed into cages installed with running wheels allowing them the self administration of physical exercise over 6 weeks. We studied i) the activity and expression of HO in the aorta and heart left ventricle (LV); ii) the activity and expression cNOS in the aorta and LV; iii) the plasma level of MMP-2 and; iv) the angina susceptibility of the heart (assessed by lead II. surface ECG following adrenaline plus phentolamine challenge).

Results: We found that physical exercise: i) increased LV and aortic HO activity (from 0.83±0.21 to 5.35±0.36 and from 0.73±0.15 to 1.60±1.13 nmol bilirubin/h/mg protein respectively; n=12–15; P<0.001) and LV HO-1 isoenzyme expression (from 106.3±3.132 to 164.0±16.479%; n=6–7; P<0.05) and ii) increased LV and aortic cNOS activity (from 16.32±3.71 to 59.11±7.94 and from 105.38±55.72 to 181.78±30.29 pmol/min per milligram protein respectively; n=9–15; P<0.001) and LV endothelial NOS isoenzyme expression (from 109.15±5.247 to 163.1±10.67%; n=3; P<0.05); and iii) decreased MMP-2 plasma level (64 KDa; from 1002.71±37.50 to 679.73±34.35 intensity×mm2; n=12–13; P<0.001); and iv) decreased heart ischaemia susceptibility (ST segment depression: from −0.14±0.018 to −0.019±0.019 mV; n=11; P<0.001).

Discussion: Long term recreational physical exercise protects the heart against angina, which might be associated with the up-regulation of the HO and NOS enzyme system, and the down-regulation of MMP-2 activation.

Grant supports: SROP 4.2.1./B-09-1/KNOV-210-0005; SROP 4.2.2.-08/1-2008-0006; Bolyai Scholarship (Aniko Posa).

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