In the present study, we have developed and demonstrated a coronary artery imaging protocol in rats using transthoracic high-frequency CDE (colour Doppler echocardiography) to investigate the potential direct effects of exercise on CFVR (coronary flow velocity reserve). SHR (spontaneously hypertensive rats) performed voluntary exercise for 6 weeks. Rats were then submitted to ultrasonographic examination and CFVR measurements. The LAD (left anterior descending coronary artery) was visualized using transthoracic CDE in a modified parasternal long-axis view. Doppler measurement was made in mid-LAD during baseline and adenosine-induced hyperaemic condition. Gene and protein expression in cardiac tissue were studied using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Adenosine infusion significantly (P<0.001, as determined by ANOVA) decreased HR, without affecting blood pressure in anaesthetized SHR. A significantly greater adenosine dose-dependent response was seen in exercised rats compared with controls (P=0.02, as determined by ANOVA). The baseline flow velocity in mid-LAD was 0.33±0.06 and 0.41±0.14 m/s in the exercised and control animals respectively (P value was not significant). The maximum adenosine-induced response was reached at a dose of 140 μg·kg−1 of body weight·min−1, and CFVR averaged at 2.6±0.53 and 1.5±0.24 in exercised and control animals respectively (P<0.01). Gene expression of CuZnSOD was up-regulated by 21% in exercised animals compared with controls (1.1±0.16 compared with 0.89±0.09; P<0.01), whereas eNOS expression was unchanged. In conclusion, CFVR in rats can be non-invasively assessed using CDE with high feasibility. Physical exercise is associated with improved CFVR and antioxidative capacity in SHR.
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September 2005
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Research Article|
August 24 2005
Voluntary physical exercise and coronary flow velocity reserve: a transthoracic colour Doppler echocardiography study in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Ulrika Hägg;
Ulrika Hägg
*Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
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Julia Grönros;
Julia Grönros
*Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
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Johannes Wikström;
Johannes Wikström
*Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
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Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir;
Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir
*Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
†Institute of Stress Medicine, Göteborg, Sweden
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Göran Bergström;
Göran Bergström
*Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
‡Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden
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Li-ming Gan
*Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
‡Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden
Correspondence: Dr Li-ming Gan, Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden (email li-ming.gan@hjl.gu.se).
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Clin Sci (Lond) (2005) 109 (3): 325–334.
Article history
Received:
February 04 2005
Revision Received:
April 29 2005
Accepted:
May 26 2005
Accepted Manuscript online:
May 26 2005
Citation
Ulrika Hägg, Julia Grönros, Johannes Wikström, Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir, Göran Bergström, Li-ming Gan; Voluntary physical exercise and coronary flow velocity reserve: a transthoracic colour Doppler echocardiography study in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 September 2005; 109 (3): 325–334. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20050052
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