Is 3 weeks of exercise enough to change blood pressure and cardiac redox state in hypertensive rats?

Abstract

© 2019, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. The investigation was aimed to evaluate the effects of 3-weeks swimming exercise on blood pressure and redox status in high-salt-induced hypertensive rats. Male Wistar albino rats (n=40, 6 weeks old) were divided into 4 groups: 1. hypertensive rats that swam for 3 weeks; 2. sedentary hypertensive control rats; 3. normotensive rats that swam for 3 weeks; 4. sedentary normotensive control rats. Hypertensive animals were on high concentrated sodium (8% NaCl) solution for 4 weeks (period of induction of hypertension). After sacrificing, hearts were isolated and perfused according to Langendorff technique at gradually increased coronary perfusion pressure from 40-120 cmH2 O. The oxidative stress markers were determined in coronary venous effluent: the index of lipid peroxidation (measured as TBARS), nitrites (NO2), superoxide anion radical (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2). Swimming did not lead to significant changes in levels of TBARS, NO2, O2 in any of compared groups while levels of H2 O2 were significantly higher in swimming hypertensive group comparing to swimming normotensive group at coronary perfusion pressure of 80-120 cmH2 O. Our results indicate that the short-term swimming start to reduce blood pressure. In addition it seems that this type of swimming duration does not promote cardiac oxidative stress damages.