Effect of 10 weeks of swimming training on antioxidant enzymes and infarction size-induced myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in male Wistar rats

Email:kamal_ranjbar2010@yahoo.com Background: Exercise training is referred to as the most important non-pharmacological strategy to cardioprotective effects of preconditioning. On the other hand, oxidative stress is one of the most important factors affecting myocardial infarction during ischemia-reperfusion injury. The molecular mechanism of this process is not known yet. However, it is likely that physical activity may decrease infarction size during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion by reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the cardioprotective effects of swimming training preconditioning on antioxidant enzymes and infarction size-induced myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: In the present experimental study, 20 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and training groups. The training group performed swimming training for 10 weeks (5 days per week, each session for 60 min). All subjects underwent myocardial ischemia (30 min) reperfusion (120 min) surgery after intervention. Then, infarction size and oxidative stress indices were measured. The data was analyzed using Independent t-test at the significance level of 0.05 (P≤0.05). Results: Antioxidant indices GSH, GPx, and Catalase induced-myocardial ischemia reperfusion were not different between the groups (p= 0.19, p=0.38, p=0.86 respectively), but MDA and MPO were significantly lower in the training group than in the control group (p=0.04 and p=0.01 respectively). Also, infarction size area following ischemia reperfusion in the training group was %8 less (p=0.01) than that of the control group. Conclusion: It seems that 10 weeks of swimming training reduced infarction size after myocardial ischemiareperfusion injury by reducing free radical production. These changes suggest protective preconditioning effects of swimming exercises.