Exercise training counteracts the abnormal release of plasma endothelin-1 in normal subjects at risk for hypertension.
BACKGROUND
The hypothesis that in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents exercise training could influence the systemic release of endothelin (ET)-1 during a provocative testing protocol was tested.


METHODS
The provocative handgrip test was performed in four groups of healthy young age-matched males: offspring of hypertensive parents following a regular swimming exercise regimen (group A, n = 14); offspring of hypertensive parents and leading a sedentary lifestyle (group B, n = 11); normal volunteers with no family history of hypertension: sedentary (group C, n = 10), and following a regular swimming regimen (group D, n = 10). The plasma ET-1 was measured at baseline, after 4 min of handgrip exercise at 50% maximal capacity and following 2 (R2) and 10 (R10) min of recovery from handgrip.


RESULTS
ET-1 plasma levels, within the normal range in all groups at baseline (group A 0.94 +/- 0.32 pg/ml, group B 0.84 +/- 0.26 pg/ml, group C 0.78 +/- 0.35 pg/ml, group D 0.85 +/- 0.26, p = NS) showed a progressive and significant increase in group B during and after handgrip exercise (peak handgrip 1.08 +/- 0.5 pg/ml, p = NS; R2 1.35 +/- 0.36 pg/ml, p < 0.05; R10 2.76 +/- 0.75 pg/ml, p < 0.01). Significant differences were found at R2 and R10 when the ET-1 levels measured in group B were compared to those observed in group A, group C and group D. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the serum levels of ET-1 significantly contributed to predict handgrip-induced changes when the diastolic blood pressure was the dependent variable.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine aerobic exercise appeared to counteract the handgrip-induced abnormal release of plasma ET-1 and may favorably affect the preclinical endothelial alterations seen in healthy offspring of hypertensive parents.
Tanzilli
Gaetano
G
II Division of Cardiology, Institute of Heart and Great Vessels Attilio Reale, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Barillà
Francesco
F
Pannitteri
Gaetano
G
Greco
Cesare
C
Comito
Cosimo
C
Schiariti
Michele
M
Papalia
Ugo
U
Mangieri
Enrico
E
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005192:Family Health; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1