Jitanan Laosiripisan. Cardioprotection by exercise training in ovariectomized rat hearts : Restoration of changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-uptake function . Master's Degree(Exercise Physiology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
Cardioprotection by exercise training in ovariectomized rat hearts : Restoration of changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-uptake function
Abstract:
Hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women has been shown to
induce many unfavorable effects, especially cardiovascular defects, which then urge
the search for prevention and therapeutic alternatives. The present study focused on
testing the cardioprotective effect of exercise training on changes in the SR Ca2+-
uptake activity in 10-wk ovariectomized rat hearts. A 9-wk running program of
moderate intensity on a motor-driven treadmill was introduced to the rat one week
after surgery. The SR Ca2+-uptake activity was measured using left ventricular
homogenate. While exercise training had no effect in normal hearts, both the
suppressed maximum SR Ca2+-uptake activity and the increased SR Ca2+-uptake
sensitivity detected in ovariectomized hearts could be completely abolished. Analysis
of the SR Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity using SR vesicle preparation from the left
ventricle demonstrated the same pattern of changes in ovariectomized hearts as those
of the uptake study. As expected, exercise training could completely abolish changes
in SERCA activity in ovariectomized hearts.
The mechanistic role of exercise training in preventing changes in the SR
Ca2+-uptake function in ovariectomized hearts was further investigated. Immunoblot
analysis was performed to quantify the amount of SERCA and its regulatory protein,
phospholamban (PLB). Exercise training could restore the downregulation of SERCA
proteins in ovariectomized hearts. In contrast to SERCA protein, there was no change
in the content of PLB in ovariectomized hearts. Since qualitative changes in PLB
could affect the sensitivity of SERCA to uptake Ca2+, modifications of PLB either by
phosphorylation or stoichiometric interaction were individually analyzed by
immunoblot with specific antibody. Similar to the total PLB, there was no change in
the phosphor-Ser16 PLB in ovariectomized hearts. On the other hand, a decrease in the
phospho-Thr17 PLB and an increase in the suprainhibitory, monomeric, PLB were
demonstrated in ovariectomized hearts in which exercise training could restore all
changes.
These results clearly indicate cardioprotective effects of exercise training on
changes in the SR Ca2+-uptake activity in ovariectomized rats via the restoration of
both quantity and quality of SERCA proteins