Exercise Training Alleviates Alzheimer’s Disease‐Associated Aortic Endothelial Dysfunction

Abstract

BackgroundsA strong association between cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been reported, but its possible mechanism has been unknown. We have tested whether aortic endothelial function in AD is impaired and investigated the protective effect of exercise training (EX) on endothelial function in aorta of AD mice.METHODSWild type (C57BL/6, WT) and AD (APP/PS1dE9, AD) mice underwent treadmill training (WT‐EX and AD‐EX) or remained sedentary for 12 weeks. The expression of total‐and phosphorylated‐endothelial nitric oxide synthase (t‐eNOS and p‐eNOS), beta‐amyloid, and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) were quantified by Western blot analysis.RESULTSt‐eNOS and p‐eNOS expressions in AD were decreased compared to WT but EX increased both t‐eNOS and p‐eNOS in AD (P < 0.01 and P = 0.09). Beta‐amyloid levels in AD were higher compared to WT but EX decreased it (P < 0.05). SOD2 levels in AD were increased by EX (P < 0.05) whereas there was no change in WT.CONCLUSIONRegular aerobic exercise alleviates e‐NOS‐mediated endothelial dysfunction in aorta of AD mice possibly via reduced beta‐amyloid and increased SOD2 levels.