Moderate Intensity Dynamic Resistance Training Induced Cardiovascular Benefits in Female Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

The dynamic resistance training (DRT) has been the subject of recent studies, however studies using post menopausal women or hypertensive women controlled by pharmacological treatment focusing just on metabolic parameters. Few studies evaluated the chronic effects of this type of training in blood pressure (BP) with direct measurement in untreated hypertensive females. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of DRT on BP, physical capacity and muscle weight in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Thus, we used 14 adult females SHR, divided into two groups (n = 7): sedentary females (FS) and trained females (FT). Maximal exercise testing was conducted before and after the training period. The DRT in moderate intensity (40–60% of the maximal load) was performed in a ladder adapted for rats per 8 weeks. After this period, there were blood glucose and triglyceride measurements and we performed cannulation of the carotid artery for direct measurement of BP. Heart tissue and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were weighted. There was improvement in physical capacity in the FT group (Maximum exercise test pre 192.75 ± 12.19 vs. post 471.13 ± 27.23). There were no difference in heart rate (FT: 386.04 ± 11.85 vs. FS: 371.93 ± 12.19 bpm) and metabolic evaluations (blood glucose 103.00 ± 1.94 vs. 102.25 ± 2.78 mg/dl; triglycerides: 112.00 ± 3.71 vs 122.25 ± 8.37 mg/dl, FT vs. FS respectively). Moreover, there were no differences in the weight of the gastrocnemius muscle (p = 0.928) and right ventricle (p = 0.549) between studied groups. DTR induced reduction in mean, systolic and diastolic BP (mean: 164.78 ± 4.96 vs. 179.20 ± 2.61; systolic: 188.97 ± 5.02 vs. 203.33 ± 4.11; diastolic: 142.67 ± 6.80 vs. 156.83 ± 2.29 mmHg, FT vs. FS respectively). Additionally, FT rats presented increased soleus and plantaris muscles and left ventricle weights as compared to FS rats (p <0.05). We conclude that the moderate intensity DRT induced BP reduction associated with cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting a positive role of this approach to hypertension management in females.Support or Funding InformationFAPESP 2015/10329‐5, CNPq 457200/2014‐6, CAPES 88881.062178/2014‐1