Abstract

The potential for heparin to enhance the training-induced increase in collateral-dependent blood flow to the distal hind-limb muscles was evaluated after bilateral femoral artery ligation in adult male rats (approximately 350 g). Rats received either saline (n = 34) or heparin (n = 36) injections and were kept sedentary (limited to cage activity) or exercised on a treadmill 5 days per week up a 15% incline by one of two protocols: (1) exercise at a constant moderate speed (20 m/min) for approximately 6 wks or (2) exercise at a progressively increased speed for 7 to 8 weeks (started at 20 m/min, increased at 15 minutes to 25 m/min, and then increased at 30 minutes to 30 m/min). Heparin- and saline-treated rats, exercised by the moderate-speed protocol, were run for the same time each day. Collateral-dependent blood flow to the distal limb tissue was determined by using 15-microns 85Sr-labeled microspheres in an isolated hindquarter preparation perfused in the descending aorta at 100 mm Hg. For comparison with the above groups, sedentary animals with acute femoral artery ligation and without femoral obstruction were included. Exercise tolerance increased from approximately 7 minutes initially to 30 to 40 minutes per bout; tolerance was greater in the heparin-injected rats than in the saline-injected rats (P < .05). Muscle performance of the gastrocnemius-plantaris-soleus muscle group (GPS) during isometric contractions in situ improved with training, was further increased by heparin administration (P < .001), and generally scaled with recovery of blood flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.