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Voluntary exercise prevents cerebrovascular dysfunction and remodelling associated with atherosclerosis in mice
Author(s) -
Bolduc Virginie,
Duquette Natacha,
Gillis MarcAntoine,
Thorin Eric
Publication year - 2011
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.25.1_supplement.1024.13
Subject(s) - zymography , medicine , endothelial dysfunction , cerebral circulation , cardiology , endothelium , matrix metalloproteinase , endocrinology
Physical exercise (PEx) has beneficial vascular effects. In mouse cerebral arteries atherosclerosis is associated endothelial dysfunction and changes in the elastic properties. We hypothesized that PEx prevents these damages. Three‐month old (m/o) male LDLr−/−hApoB+/+ mice (ATX, n=9) and wild type (WT, n=9) controls were exposed, or not, to 3 months of voluntary PEx (≈6 km/day). At 6‐m/o, endothelium‐dependent flow‐mediated dilations (FMD), compliance and incremental distensibility were assessed. Brain vessels matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP‐9) activity was evaluated by zymography. Versus WT, FMD was reduced in ATX by 76% at 11.5±0.5 dynes/cm2 (p<0.05) but PEx prevented this decline. At 80 mm Hg, cerebrovascular compliance and incremental distensibility rise in ATX by 26 and 38% versus WT, respectively. PEx normalized these parameters (p<0.05). Pro‐MMP‐9 activity was higher in ATX (1.4±0.1 au) versus WT (1.1±0.1), but normalized by PEx (1.2±0.2) (p<0.05). Our data suggest that ATX affects both the endothelial function and wall elasticity in association with a rise in MMP‐9 activity. PEx prevented these changes demonstrating that it is beneficial to the cerebral circulation. Supported by CIHR MOP 89733