Exercise training normalizes elevated firing rate of hypothalamic presympathetic neurons in heart failure rats

Aerobic Exercise Prevents Arterial Stiffness and Attenuates Hyperexcitation of Sympathetic Nerves in Perivascular Adipose Tissue of Mice after Transverse Aortic Constriction

We aimed to investigate the efficacy of exercise on preventing arterial stiffness and the potential role of sympathetic nerves within perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in pressure-overload-induced heart failure (HF) mice. Eight-week-old male mice were subjected to sham operation (SHAM), transverse aortic constriction-sedentary (TAC-SE), and transverse aortic constriction-exercise (TAC-EX) groups. Six weeks of aerobic exercise training was performed using a treadmill. Arterial stiffness was determined by measuring the elastic modulus. The elastic and collagen fibers of the aorta and sympathetic nerve distribution in PVAT were observed. Circulating noradrenaline (NE), expressions of β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR), and adiponectin in PVAT were quantified. During the recovery of cardiac function by aerobic exercise, thoracic aortic collagen elastic modulus (CEM) and collagen fibers were significantly decreased (p < 0.05, TAC-SE vs. TAC-EX), and elastin elastic modulus (EEM) was significantly increased (p < 0.05, TAC-SE vs. TAC-EX). Circulating NE and sympathetic nerve distribution in PVAT were significantly decreased (p < 0.05, TAC-SE vs. TAC-EX). The expression of β3-AR was significantly reduced (p < 0.05, TAC-SE vs. TAC-EX), and adiponectin was significantly increased (p < 0.05, TAC-SE vs. TAC-EX) in PVAT. Regular aerobic exercise can effectively prevent arterial stiffness and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in the developmental course of HF, during which sympathetic innervation and adiponectin within PVAT might be strongly implicated.

Resistance training improves cardiac function and cardiovascular autonomic control in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer chemotherapy drug that is widely used in clinical practice. It is well documented that DOX impairs baroreflex responsiveness and left ventricular function and enhances sympathetic activity, cardiac sympathetic afferent reflexes and oxidative stress, which contribute to hemodynamic deterioration. Because resistance training (RT)-induced cardioprotection has been observed in other animal models, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of RT during DOX treatment on hemodynamics, arterial baroreflex, cardiac autonomic tone, left ventricular function and oxidative stress in rats with DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Male Wistar rats were submitted to a RT protocol (3 sets of 10 repetitions, 40% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) of intensity, 3 times per week, for 8 weeks). The rats were separated into 3 groups: sedentary control, DOX sedentary (2.5 mg/kg of DOX intraperitoneal injection, once a week, for 6 weeks) and DOX + RT. After training or time control, the animals were anesthetized and 2 catheters were implanted for hemodynamic, arterial baroreflex and cardiac autonomic tone. Another group of animals was used to evaluate left ventricular function. We found that RT in DOX-treated rats decreased diastolic arterial pressure, heart rate, sympathetic tone and oxidative stress. In addition, RT increased arterial baroreflex sensitivity, vagal tone and left ventricular developed pressure in rats with DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. In summary, RT is a useful non-pharmacological strategy to attenuate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Sympathetic neural responses in heart failure during exercise and after exercise training

The sympathetic nervous system coordinates the cardiovascular response to exercise. This regulation is impaired in both experimental and human heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), resulting in a state of sympathoexcitation which limits exercise capacity and contributes to adverse outcome. Exercise training can moderate sympathetic excess at rest. Recording sympathetic nerve firing during exercise is more challenging. Hence, data acquired during exercise are scant and results vary according to exercise modality. In this review we will: (1) describe sympathetic activity during various exercise modes in both experimental and human HFrEF and consider factors which influence these responses; and (2) summarise the effect of exercise training on sympathetic outflow both at rest and during exercise in both animal models and human HFrEF. We will particularly highlight studies in humans which report direct measurements of efferent sympathetic nerve traffic using intraneural recordings. Future research is required to clarify the neural afferent mechanisms which contribute to efferent sympathetic activation during exercise in HFrEF, how this may be altered by exercise training, and the impact of such attenuation on cardiac and renal function.

Effects of exercise on BDNF-TrkB signaling in the paraventricular nucleus and rostral ventrolateral medulla in rats post myocardial infarction

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) signaling in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is associated with cardiovascular regulation. Exercise increases plasma BDNF and attenuates activation of central pathways in the PVN and RVLM post myocardial infarction (MI). The present study assessed whether MI alters BDNF-TrkB signaling and intracellular factors Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and Akt in the PVN and RVLM of male Wistar rats with or without exercise or treatment with the TrkB blocker ANA-12. A 4-week period of treadmill exercise training was performed in MI rats. A separate experiment was conducted with 2.5 mg/kg ANA-12 in sedentary MI rats. At 5 weeks post MI, in both the PVN and RVLM, the ratio of full-length TrkB (TrkB.FL) and truncated TrkB (TrkB.T1) was decreased. 0.5 mg/kg ANA-12 did not affect BDNF-TrkB signaling and cardiac function post MI, but 2.5 mg/kg ANA-12 further decreased ejection fraction (EF). Exercise increased mature BDNF (mBDNF) and decreased Akt activity in the PVN, whereas in the RVLM, exercise did not affect mBDNF but lowered p-CaMKIIβ. ANA-12 prevented the exercise-induced increase in mBDNF in the PVN and decrease in p-CaMKIIβ in the RVLM. In conclusion, exercise decreases Akt activity in the PVN and decreases p-CaMKIIβ in the RVLM post MI. BDNF-TrkB signaling only mediates the decrease in p-CaMKIIβ in the RVLM. The exercise-induced decreases in Akt activity in the PVN and p-CaMKIIβ in the RVLM may contribute to the attenuation of the decrease in EF and sympathetic hyperactivity post MI.