Cardioprotective effect of physical exercise against cardiac ischemic reperfusion injury in aged female rats with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The present study was carried outto investigate the potential of a low intensityswim –exercise program of 4-week duration toprotect the heart against ischemic reperfusion injury in aged female rats with metabolic syndrome. The study was carried out on 90 aged Wistar female rats, initially weighing 260-310 gm. Throughout the 12 week- study period, the percent of deaths was 47% .The final number of rats included in the study was 47 rats. Animals were divided randomly into the following groups: 1. Control rat group (C, n=17).Rats in this group were fed standard rat diet and were given 0.4 ml distilled water /100 gm body weight/day throughout the study period (12 weeks). 2. Metabolic syndrome rat group(M, n=30).Rats in this group were given 200% fructose solution by gavage (0.4ml/100gm BW) to attain daily fructose intake 8 g /Kg body weight throughout the study period (12 weeks). On the 9th week, rats were subdivided into: A. Sedentary rat group (MS, n=15).Rats in this group were subjected to 5 minute water immersion before each swimming session of the metabolic syndrome- swim exercised rat group. B. Swim-exercised rat group (ME, n=15).Rats in this group were subjected to low intensity swim- exercise program, 2 hours daily, 5 days a week, for 4weeks. Throughout the experimental period, all rats were subjected to monthly assessment of:Body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI),waist circumference (WC) and arterial blood pressure. At the end of the induction period of metabolic syndrome (8thweeks), all rats were subjected to intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). At the end of the experiment(12th week),all rats were subjected to the following experimental studies: 1) Measurement of arterial blood pressure, body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC),ECG recording and visceral fat weight (VF).