Regular Aerobic Exercise as a Therapeutic Strategy for Inflammation and Toxicity in the Right Ventricle of Hypertensive Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

Purpose: Hypertension is a major public health problem worldwide and is the most common cardiovascular 
disease (CVD) risk factor. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of regular 
aerobic training on inflammatory and toxicity markers in right ventricle tissue of male wistar rats exposed to 
chronic nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester(L-NAME)-induced hypertension.
Material and Methods: Thirty two adult, male, Wistar rats were randomly classified into 4 groups; aerobic 
training, L-NAME, saline, and baseline groups. Hypertension was induced by administration of L-NAME 
(10 mg/kg) 6 sessions a week and for 8 weeks. Aerobic training was performed between 25 to 64 minutes and
at the speed of 15 to 22 m/min, 5 sessions a week and for 8 weeks.
Results: Chronically administration of L-NAME caused a significant increase in angiotensin converting 
enzyme (ACE), interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, and a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric 
oxide (NO) levels, as compared to saline and baseline groups. In contrast, 8 weeks of aerobic training caused a 
significant increase in SOD, and NO and a significant decrease in IL-6 and protein carbonyl (PC), as compared 
to L-NAME and saline groups.
Discussion and Conclusion: These findings suggest that aerobic training could have a protective effect 
against inflammation and toxicity caused by hypertension the in right ventricle tissue through up-regulating
antioxidant systems and down-regulating the inflammatory and vasoconstrictor factors in hypertensive rats. 

Keywords

• Oxidative injury
• Endurance exercise
• Cardiovascular disease
• Inflammation
• Hypertension

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