Ameliorative Effect of Exercise Training on Age-Related Vascular and Biochemical Changes in Rats

Abstract
Background: Physical exercise is suggested as a life style modification to improve the age related patho-physiologic heamodynamic alterations.
Aim of Study: The present study was designed to evaluate the possible ameliorating role of aerobic exercise training in improving age associated vascular dysfunction and hemody-namic disturbance.
Material and Methods: Thirty male albino rats of local strain were used for this study. Rats were divided into three main groups: The young control (aged 3-4 months, weighing 150-200gm) (n=10), aged sedentary (aged 22-24 months, weighing 300-400gm) (n=10) and aged exercised group (aged 22-24 months, weighing 300-400gm) (n=10). Rats in the aged exercised group practiced moderate intensity treadmill exercise for 5 days/week for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks rats were subjected for rat tail-measurement of SBP. Then, fasting retro-orbital blood samples were collected for measuring serum lipid profile (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C and TGs) and inflammatory cytokine (TNF-a). Lastly, rats were sacrificed and abdominal aorta was exposed for assessing MNV and RP using Doppler ultrasound.
Results: In aged sedentary group, there were significant increase in SBP, RP, serum (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C) and serum TNF-a associated with significant decrement in MNV when compared to the corresponding values in the young control ones. Exercise training for six weeks significantly restored age-related vascular and biochemical changes except for HDL-C and TC there was insignificant diffrence when compared to the corresponding values in aged sedentary group.
Conclusion: Regular exercise training in aging has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular functions by accelerating blood flow and decreasing resistance to blood flow, also it has an additive beneficial effect on the associated dyslipidemia and chronic inflammatory state in aging.