title: Chronic exercise preserves renal structure and hemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exercise training (ExT) is a recommended adjunct to many pharmaceutical antihypertensive therapies. The effects of chronic ExT on the development of hypertension-induced renal injury remain unknown. We examined whether ExT would preserve renal hemodynamics and structure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), and whether these effects were mediated by improved redox status and decreased inflammation. Normotensive WKY rats and SHR underwent moderate-intensity ExT for 16 weeks. One group of SHR animals was treated with hydralazine to investigate the pressure-dependent/independent effects of ExT. Acute renal clearance experiments were performed prior to sacrifice. Tissue free radical production rates were measured by electron paramagnetic resonance; gene and protein expression were measured by real time RT-PCR and Western blot or immunofluorescence, respectively. Plasma angiotensin II levels and kidney antioxidants were assessed. Training efficacy was assessed by citrate synthase activity assay in hind-limb muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ExT delayed hypertension, prevented oxidative stress and inflammation, preserved antioxidant status, prevented an increase in circulating AngII levels, and preserved renal hemodynamics and structure in SHR. In addition, exercise-induced effects, at least, in part, were found to be pressure-independent.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is the first to provide mechanistic evidence for the renoprotective benefits of ExT in a model of hypertension. Our results demonstrate that initiation of ExT in susceptible patients can delay the development of hypertension and provide renoprotection at the functional and ultrastructural level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic ExT preserves renal hemodynamics and structure in SHR; these effects are partially mediated by improved redox status and decreased inflammation.
authors: Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, USA.
authors: Deepmala
authors: D
authors: Agarwal
authors: Carrie M
authors: CM
authors: Elks
authors: Scott D
authors: SD
authors: Reed
authors: Nithya
authors: N
authors: Mariappan
authors: Dewan S A
authors: DS
authors: Majid
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Francis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013481:Superoxides; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase