Exercise Training Combined with Hydrochlorothiazide is More Efficient than Antihypertensive Treatment Alone to Promote Cardiofunctional Benefits in a Model of Hypertension and Menopause

Abstract

The largest proportion of hypertensive women are in postmenopause and this hypertension is poor controlled. Experimental model has shown that exercise training (ET) is effective to reduce arterial pressure (AP) and to mitigate of autonomic dysfunction. Following current guidelines for hypertension treatment, the association of antihypertensives therapy (AT) with ET is strongly recommended. Here, we investigate the effects of the ET plus AT on functional and hemodynamic parameters in an experimental model of hypertension and menopause. Female spontaneously hypertensive rats (150–180g, 3 months old) were ovariectomized and randomly assigned into 3 groups (4–6 animals/group): ovariectomized (OVX) sedentary (OS), OVX sedentary treated with hydrochlorothiazide (OSH) and OVX trained treated with hydrochlorothiazide (OTH). Ovarian hormone deprivation was performed through bilateral ovariectomy. Rats underwent the maximal running test and 1‐repetition maximum (RM) test in the first, fourth and eighth weeks. Hydrochlorothiazide (30 mg/kg) was dissolved in the drinking water. Noninvasive arterial pressure (AP) was assessment by the tail cuff plethysmography. Concurrent ET (40–60% maximal capacity) was performed on a motor treadmill (aerobic training) and on a ladder adapted to rats (resistance training), 3 days/wk for 8 weeks. Carotid artery and jugular vein catheterization were performed and the systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP) and mean AP (MAP), as well as heart rate (HR) were recorded. OTH presented a higher aerobic capacity compared to OS group (group effect, p<0.05). In addition, trained and treated with antihypertensive therapy showed a higher load resistance capacity in relation to OS and OSH groups (group effect, p<0.05). There was an interaction effect between time and group in both aerobic capacity (p<0.05) and load resistance capacity (p<0.05). Similarly, interaction effect was observed for noninvasive SAP (p<0.05), and OTH presented a lower value compared to OS group (group effect, p<0.05). In addition, DAP and MAP were lower in the OSH compared to OS group, as well as the OTH group showed lower HR in relation to OS group. No differences were observed for DAP and MAP between OSH and OTH groups. To date, our results suggest that exercise training associated with hydrochlorothiazide treatment induce additional cardiofunctional benefits than antihypertensive treatment alone.Support or Funding InformationCAPES‐DS and FAPESP.