Volume 112, Nº 5, May 2019
DOI: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.5935/abc.20190050
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Thermoregulation in Hypertensive Rats during Exercise: Effects of Physical Training
Luis Henrique Lobo Silame Gomes
Lucas Rios Drummond
Helton Oliveira Campos
Leonardo Mateus
Teixeira de Rezende
Miguel Araújo Carneiro-Júnior
Alessandro Oliveira
Antônio José Natali
Thales Nicolau Prímola-Gomes
Figure 2 – Heat dissipation threshold (ºC) (A) and sensitivity (B) during the acute physical exercise protocol. Data expressed as mean ± SD. C-WIS: control Wistar, T-WIS: trained Wistar, C-SHR: control SHR, T-SHR: trained SHR.
Abstract
Background: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) show deficit in thermal balance during physical exercise.
Objective: To assess the effects of low-intensity physical exercise training on thermal balance of hypertensive rats undergoing an acute exercise protocol.
Methods: Sixteen-week-old male Wistar rats and SHR were allocated into four groups: control Wistar rats (C-WIS), trained Wistar (T-WIS), control SHR (C-SHR) and trained SHR (T-SHR). Treadmill exercise training was performed for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, resting heart rate and total exercise time was measured before and after the physical exercise program. After the exercise program, a temperature sensor was implanted in the abdominal cavity, and the animals subjected to an acute exercise protocol, during which core temperature, tail skin temperature and oxygen consumption until fatigue were continuously recorded. Mechanical efficiency (ME), work, heat dissipation threshold and sensitivity were calculated. Statistical significance was set at 5%.
Results: Physical training and hypertension had no effect on thermal balance during physical exercise. Compared with C-WIS, the T-WIS group showed higher heat production, which was counterbalanced by higher heat dissipation. Hypertensive rats showed lower ME than normotensive rats, which was not reversed by the physical training.
Conclusion: Low-intensity physical training did not affect thermal balance in SHR subjected to acute exercise. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)
Keywords: Rats; Hypertension; Exercise/physiology; Physical Exertion; Body Temperature Changes; Fatigue.
