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Rat genetic models of response to aerobic exercise
Author(s) -
Koch Lauren Gerard,
Wisloff Ulrik,
Britton Steven
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a825-c
Subject(s) - aerobic exercise , aerobic capacity , treadmill , medicine
Although aerobic exercise is important for prevention of disease risks, its effects are variable because of gene‐environment interactions. Here we created rat models to explore the genetic variation that exists for response to exercise training. Selective breeding with N:NIH as founder rats was done to produce rats with high response to training (HRT) and rats with low response to training (LRT). Distance (m) on a speed‐ramped treadmill run to exhaustion was used to estimate both the intrinsic (pre‐trained) and the adaptational component of aerobic capacity produced by 8 weeks of treadmill training. At generation 9 of selection, pre‐training running capacity was similar between the lines (720±21 m LRT vs. 710±20 m HRT). Post‐training capacity was higher in HRT (1000±29 m) and on average remained unchanged in LRT (700±27 m). In relative terms, exercise response was −0.02% for LRT rats (n=80) compared to +46% for HRT rats (n=67). Initial characterization showed that VO 2 max and cardiomyocyte remodeling were not altered by training in the LRT rats. These data demonstrate that a difference in exercise response exists between these lines. At least a part of this difference is presumably due to segregation of contrasting alleles for response to training. These new rat models may help to elucidate mechanistically the pathways by which training improves both aerobic capacity and health.