Effects of Endurance Exercise on Estrogen Receptors, Endothelin-1, and eNOS Expression in Aorta of OVX Rats

Abstract

METHODS: Female (Fischer 344, n=40) rat of 6 weeks ages were divided into 3 groups; Sham-control (SO, n=10), OVX-control (SC, n=10), OVX-low intensity exercise (OL, n=10), OVX-moderate intensity exercise (OM, n=10). The two exercise training groups ran on treadmill for 60 min/day, 5 times/week at 18 and 26 m/min for 16 weeks. Western blotting was used to analysis rat aortas and target proteins. The statistical evaluation was performed using one way ANOVA and post-hoc test. p<.05 was considered statistical significant. RESULTS: In comparison with OV group, OM group showed significantly lower body weight gain and TG. Expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ET-1, not estrogen receptor β (ERβ), in OV was significantly higher than SC, but they were significantly recovered in both of OL and OM compared with OV. Both of OL and OM significantly increased phosphorylation of eNOS and ERK compared with OV. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that endurance exercise training may improve the vascular function through suppression of ET-1 and activation of eNOS, ERK and ERα in aorta of ovariectomized rats.