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Exercise induces Hsp70 in smooth muscle cells of the cerebral vasculature
Author(s) -
Van Aarsen Marcus J,
Noble Earl G
Publication year - 2009
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.23.1_supplement.641.1
Subject(s) - hsp70 , ex vivo , neuroprotection , cerebral blood flow , heat shock protein , vascular smooth muscle , cerebral circulation , medicine , endothelium , endocrinology , anatomy , biology , smooth muscle , biochemistry , gene , in vitro
Exercise (EX) is a complex physiological stressor of the cardiovascular system. EX is known to increase expression of the cytoprotective inducible isoform of the 70 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) in blood vessels of working muscle. The objective of this study was to determine whether EX induces a similar increase in Hsp70 content in the cerebral vasculature. Sprague‐Dawley rats (n=10) were randomly assigned to either an EX (60 min treadmill running, 30 m/min, 5 consecutive days) or control group. Brain was harvested 24 hours following the final EX bout and sectioned for immunohistological localization of Hsp70, vascular endothelium and smooth muscle. Results showed increased Hsp70 expression in the cerebral vasculature post‐EX versus controls. Post‐EX, Hsp70 was always observed in the vascular smooth muscle of large cerebral vessels adjacent to the midbrain, and was also infrequently present in the vascular endothelium of these vessels. No Hsp70 was detected in neural regions of the brain. Although unclear, increased expression of Hsp70 may be a response to the change in characteristics of blood and blood flow that occur due to EX, or due to increased autonomic outflow to the vascular smooth muscle. Regardless, the neuroprotective nature of EX may be in part due to the protection of cerebral blood vessels by Hsp70. Supported by NSERC #8170‐05 Grant Funding Source Internal