Chronic Exercise (chronic + exercise)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Repeated bouts of aerobic exercise lead to reductions in skeletal muscle free radical generation and nuclear factor ,B activation

THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 16 2008
Susan V. Brooks
Chronic exercise improves endurance and skeletal muscle oxidative capacity. Despite the potential importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during exercise as regulators of these adaptations, the effect of repeated bouts of aerobic exercise on ROS generation by skeletal muscles during contractions has not been examined. Our aim was to establish the impact of repeated treadmill running exercise on muscle ROS generation and activation of redox-sensitive transcription factors. Following 8 weeks of treadmill running, mice displayed an improvement in running speed that was associated with an enhanced ability of gastrocnemius (GTN) muscles to maintain force during a protocol of isometric contractions. In contrast to GTN muscles of cage-sedentary (Sed) mice, muscles from exercised (Exer) mice did not release superoxide or nitric oxide during the isometric contractions. For male mice, basal levels of nuclear factor ,B (NF,B) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding were increased by treadmill running, and the contraction-induced activation of NF,B and AP-1 observed in muscles of Sed mice was absent in Exer muscles. Also in contrast to Sed muscles, Exer muscles displayed no reductions in glutathione or protein thiol levels in response to contraction. Our observations of decreases for Exer compared with Sed muscles in contraction-induced (i) ROS generation, (ii) activation of redox-sensitive signalling pathways, and (iii) ROS stress suggest that exercise conditioning enhances the ability of skeletal muscle to readily and rapidly detoxify ROS and/or reduces ROS generation, providing protection from ROS-induced damage and reducing signals that might act to mediate further unnecessary adaptations. [source]


The effects of acute and chronic exercise on the vasculature

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010
J. J. Whyte
Abstract Regular physical activity (endurance training, ET) has a strong positive link with cardiovascular health. The aim of this review is to draw together the current knowledge on gene expression in different cell types comprising the vessels of the circulatory system, with special emphasis on the endothelium, and how these gene products interact to influence vascular health. The effect beneficial effects of ET on the endothelium are believed to result from increased vascular shear stress during ET bouts. A number of mechanosensory mechanisms have been elucidated that may contribute to the effects of ET on vascular function, but there are questions regarding interactions among molecular pathways. For instance, increases in flow brought on by ET can reduce circulating levels of viscosity and haemostatic and inflammatory variables that may interact with increased shear stress, releasing vasoactive substances such as nitric oxide and prostacyclin, decreasing permeability to plasma lipoproteins as well as the adhesion of leucocytes. At this time the optimal rate-of-flow and rate-of-change in flow for determining whether anti-atherogenic or pro-atherogenic processes proceed remain unknown. In addition, the impact of haemodynamic variables differs with vessel size and tissue type in which arteries are located. While the hurdles to understanding the mechanism responsible for ET-induced alterations in vascular cell gene expression are significant, they in no way undermine the established benefits of regular physical activity to the cardiovascular system and to general overall health. This review summarizes current understanding of control of vascular cell gene expression by exercise and how these processes lead to improved cardiovascular health. [source]


The effect of long-term exercise on glucose metabolism and peripheral insulin sensitivity in Standardbred horses

EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue S36 2006
E. de GRAAF-ROELFSEMA
Summary Reasons for performing study: To study the possible long-term effect of improved glucose tolerance in horses after long-term training, as the impact of exercise training on glucose metabolism is still unclear in the equine species. It is not known whether there is a direct long-term effect of training or if the measurable effect on glucose metabolism is the residual effect of the last exercise session. Objectives: To determine the chronic effect on glucose metabolism and peripheral insulin sensitivity of long-term training in horses by use of the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique. Methods: Eleven Standardbred horses were acclimatised to running on the high-speed treadmill for 4 weeks (Phase 1) followed by training for 18 weeks with an alternating endurance (, 60% HRmax) high intensity training programme (, 80% HRmax) (Phase 2). Training frequency was 4 days/week. At the end of Phase 1, a euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp was performed 72 h after the last bout of exercise in all horses. At the end of Phase 2, the horses were clamped 24 h or 72 h after the last bout of exercise. Results: Glucose metabolism rate did not change significantly after 18 weeks of training, measured 72 h after the last exercise bout (0.018 ± 0.009 and 0.022 ± 0.006 mmol/kg bwt/min, respectively). Peripheral insulin sensitivity also did not change significantly following training (7.6 ± 5.7 times 10,6 and 8.0 ± 3.1 times 10,6, respectively). The same measurements 24 h after the last bout of exercise showed no significant differences. Conclusions: Results indicated that long-term training in Standardbreds neither changed glucose metabolism or insulin sensitivity 72 h after the last bout of exercise. Potential relevance: The fact that the beneficial effect of increased insulin sensitivity after acute exercise diminishes quickly in horses and no long-term effects on insulin sensitivity after chronic exercise have as yet been found in horses, implies that exercise should be performed on a regular basis in horses to retain the beneficial effect of improved insulin sensitivity. [source]


Differential effects of acute and chronic exercise on plasticity-related genes in the rat hippocampus revealed by microarray

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 6 2002
Raffaella Molteni
Abstract Studies were performed to determine the effects of acute and chronic voluntary periods of exercise on the expression of hippocampal genes. RNAs from rodents exposed to a running wheel for 3, 7 and 28 days were examined using a microarray with 1176 cDNAs expressed primarily in the brain. The expression of selected genes was quantified by Taqman RT-PCR or RNase protection assay. The largest up-regulation was observed in genes involved with synaptic trafficking (synapsin I, synaptotagmin and syntaxin); signal transduction pathways (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, CaM-KII; mitogen-activated/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, MAP-K/ERK I and II; protein kinase C, PKC-,) or transcription regulators (cyclic AMP response element binding protein, CREB). Genes associated with the glutamatergic system were up-regulated (N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor, NMDAR-2A and NMDAR-2B and excitatory amino acid carrier 1, EAAC1), while genes related to the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system were down-regulated (GABAA receptor, glutamate decarboxylase GAD65). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was the only trophic factor whose gene was consistently up-regulated at all timepoints. These results, together with the fact that most of the genes up-regulated have a recognized interaction with BDNF, suggest a central role for BDNF on the effects of exercise on brain plasticity. The temporal profile of gene expression seems to delineate a mechanism by which specific molecular pathways are activated after exercise performance. For example, the CaM-K signal system seems to be active during acute and chronic periods of exercise, while the MAP-K/ERK system seems more important during long-term exercise. [source]


Heat Shock Protein Expression is Increased in Cardiac and Skeletal Muscles of Fischer 344 Rats After Endurance Training

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2000
T. R. Samelman
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are expressed when cells are exposed to various types of stress and they may provide protection against cellular insult. Previous data have shown increases in HSP expression following acute exhaustive exercise in rats (Locke et al. 1990, 1995; Salo et al. 1991) and humans (Liu et al. 1999); however, it is not known if chronic exercise will increase resting levels of HSPs. The purpose of this study was to determine if basal protein levels of HSP 72/73 and HSP 60 are increased in cardiac and skeletal muscle of endurance trained Fischer 344 rats. Heart, soleus (SOL) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles were removed and hearts were sectioned into left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV) and atria (AT). Endurance training improved myocardial citrate synthase activity by 88, 90 and 77% and cytochrome c oxidase activity by 58, 51 and 89% in LV, RV and AT, respectively. LV and RV oxidative enzyme activities were greater when compared to AT for both trained and untrained rats (P < 0.05). HSP 72/73 expression was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in LV, RV and SOL from endurance trained versus from control rats (26, 45 and 67%, respectively). HSP 60 was also increased (P < 0.05) in LV, RV and SOL in trained relative to untrained rats. HSP 72/73 and HSP 60 were unchanged in AT and LG after training. These results indicate that endurance training increases the basal expression of stress proteins and this observation is consistent with the hypothesis that endurance training may activate a protective mechanism to stress. [source]


Signaling mechanisms in skeletal muscle: Acute responses and chronic adaptations to exercise

IUBMB LIFE, Issue 3 2008
Katja S.C. Röckl
Abstract Physical activity elicits physiological responses in skeletal muscle that result in a number of health benefits, in particular in disease states, such as type 2 diabetes. An acute bout of exercise/muscle contraction improves glucose homeostasis by increasing skeletal muscle glucose uptake, while chronic exercise training induces alterations in the expression of metabolic genes, such as those involved in muscle fiber type, mitochondrial biogenesis, or glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein levels. A primary goal of exercise research is to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate these important metabolic and transcriptional events in skeletal muscle. In this review, we briefly summarize the current literature describing the molecular signals underlying skeletal muscle responses to acute and chronic exercise. The search for possible exercise/contraction-stimulated signaling proteins involved in glucose transport, muscle fiber type, and mitochondrial biogenesis is ongoing. Further research is needed because full elucidation of exercise-mediated signaling pathways would represent a significant step toward the development of new pharmacological targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(3): 145,153, 2008 [source]


Cardioprotection afforded by chronic exercise is mediated by the sarcolemmal, and not the mitochondrial, isoform of the KATP channel in the rat

THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
David A. Brown
This study was conducted to examine the role of myocardial ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels in exercise-induced protection from ischaemia,reperfusion (I,R) injury. Female rats were either sedentary (Sed) or exercised for 12 weeks (Tr). Hearts were excised and underwent a 1,2 h regional I,R protocol. Prior to ischaemia, hearts were subjected to pharmacological blockade of the sarcolemmal KATP channel with HMR 1098 (SedHMR and TrHMR), mitochondrial blockade with 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5HD; Sed5HD and Tr5HD), or perfused with buffer containing no drug (Sed and Tr). Infarct size was significantly smaller in hearts from Tr animals (35.4 ± 2.3 versus 44.7 ± 3.0% of the zone at risk for Tr and Sed, respectively). Mitochondrial KATP blockade did not abolish the training-induced infarct size reduction (30.0 ± 3.4 versus 38.0 ± 2.6 in Tr5HD and Sed5HD, respectively); however, sarcolemmal KATP blockade completely eradicated the training-induced cardioprotection. Infarct size was 71.2 ± 3.3 and 64.0 ± 2.4% of the zone at risk for TrHMR and Sed HMR. The role of sarcolemmal KATP channels in Tr-induced protection was also supported by significant increases in both subunits of the sarcolemmal KATP channel following training. LV developed pressure was better preserved in hearts from Tr animals, and was not influenced by addition of HMR 1098. 5HD decreased pressure development regardless of training status, from 15 min of ischaemia through the duration of the protocol. This mechanical dysfunction was likely to be due to a 5HD-induced increase in myocardial Ca2+ content following I,R. The major findings of the present study are: (1) unlike all other known forms of delayed cardioprotection, infarct sparing following chronic exercise was not abolished by 5HD; (2) pharmacological blockade of the sarcolemmal KATP channel nullified the cardioprotective benefits of exercise training; and (3) increased expression of sarcolemmal KATP channels was observed following chronic training. [source]


Exercise prevents the effects of experimental arthritis on the metabolism and function of immune cells

CELL BIOCHEMISTRY AND FUNCTION, Issue 4 2010
Francisco Navarro
Abstract Active lymphocytes (LY) and macrophages (M,) are involved in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Due to its anti-inflammatory effect, physical exercise may be beneficial in RA by acting on the immune system (IS). Thus, female Wistar rats with type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) were submitted to swimming training (6 weeks, 5 days/week, 60,min/day) and some biochemical and immune parameters, such as the metabolism of glucose and glutamine and function of LY and M,, were evaluated. In addition, plasma levels of some hormones and of interleukin-2 (IL-2) were also determined. Results demonstrate that CIA increased lymphocyte proliferation (1.9- and 1.7-fold, respectively, in response to concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)), as well as macrophage H2O2 production (1.6-fold), in comparison to control. Exercise training prevented the activation of immune cells, induced by CIA, and established a pattern of substrate utilization similar to that described as normal for these cells. Exercise also promoted an elevation of plasma levels of corticosterone (22.2%), progesterone (1.7-fold) and IL-2 (2.6-fold). Our data suggest that chronic exercise is able to counterbalance the effects of CIA on cells of the IS, reinforcing the proposal that the benefits of exercise may not be restricted to aerobic capacity and/or strength improvement. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]