Exercise improves cardiovascular control in a model of dislipidemia and menopause

The present study investigated the effects of exercise training on arterial pressure, baroreflex sensitivity, cardiovascular autonomic control and metabolic parameters on female LDL-receptor knockout ovariectomized mice. Mice were divided into two groups: sedentary and trained. Trained group was submitted to an exercise training protocol. Blood cholesterol was measured. Arterial pressure (AP) signals were directly recorded in conscious mice. Baroreflex sensitivity was evaluated by tachycardic and bradycardic responses to AP changes. Cardiovascular autonomic modulation was measured in frequency (FFT) and time domains. Maximal exercise capacity was increased in trained as compared to sedentary group. Blood cholesterol was diminished in trained mice (191 ± 8 mg/dL) when compared to sedentary mice (250 ± 9 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Mean AP and HR were reduced in trained group (101 ± 3 mmHg and 535 ± 14 bpm, p < 0.05) when compared with sedentary group (125 ± 3 mmHg and 600 ± 12 bpm). Exercise training induced improvement in bradycardic reflex response in trained animals (−4.24 ± 0.62 bpm/mmHg) in relation to sedentary animals (−1.49 ± 0.15 bpm/mmHg, p < 0.01); tachycardic reflex responses were similar between studied groups. Exercise training increased the variance (34 ± 8 vs. 6.6 ± 1.5 ms2 in sedentary, p < 0.005) and the high-frequency band (HF) of the pulse interval (IP) (53 ± 7% vs. 26 ± 6% in sedentary, p < 0.01). It is tempting to speculate that results of this experimental study might represent a rationale for this non-pharmacological intervention in the management of cardiovascular risk factors in dyslipidemic post-menopause women.