Resistance Exercise Restores Endothelial Function and Reduces Blood Pressure in Type 1 Diabetic Rats

• Main Authors: Marcelo Mendonça Mota, Tharciano Luiz Teixeira Braga da Silva, Milene Tavares Fontes, André Sales Barreto, João Eliakim dos Santos Araújo, Antônio Cesar Cabral de Oliveira, Rogério Brandão Wichi, Márcio Roberto Viana Santos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC) 2014-07-01
• Series: Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia
• Subjects: Ratos; Exercício; Resistência Física; Endotélio Vascular / fisiologia; Pressão Arterial / fisiologia; Diabetes
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0066-782X2014001900005&lng=en&tlng=en

Background: Resistance exercise effects on cardiovascular parameters are not consistent. Objectives: The effects of resistance exercise on changes in blood glucose, blood pressure and vascular reactivity were evaluated in diabetic rats. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control group (n = 8); sedentary diabetic (n = 8); and trained diabetic (n = 8). Resistance exercise was carried out in a squat device for rats and consisted of three sets of ten repetitions with an intensity of 50%, three times per week, for eight weeks. Changes in vascular reactivity were evaluated in superior mesenteric artery rings. Results: A significant reduction in the maximum response of acetylcholine-induced relaxation was observed in the sedentary diabetic group (78.1 ± 2%) and an increase in the trained diabetic group (95 ± 3%) without changing potency. In the presence of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, the acetylcholine-induced relaxation was significantly reduced in the control and trained diabetic groups, but not in the sedentary diabetic group. Furthermore, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in mean arterial blood pressure was observed in the sedentary diabetic group (104.9 ± 5 to 126.7 ± 5 mmHg) as compared to that in the control group. However, the trained diabetic group showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the mean arterial blood pressure levels (126.7 ± 5 to 105.1 ± 4 mmHg) as compared to the sedentary diabetic group. Conclusions: Resistance exercise could restore endothelial function and prevent an increase in arterial blood pressure in type 1 diabetic rats.