title: Improvement of the physical performance is associated with activation of NO/PGC-1α/mtTFA signaling pathway and increased protein expressions of electron transport chain in gastrocnemius muscle from rats supplemented with L-arginine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the influence of l-arginine supplementation in combination with physical training on mitochondrial biomarkers from gastrocnemius muscle and its relationship with physical performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control sedentary (SD), sedentary supplemented with l-arginine (SDLA), trained (TR) and trained supplemented with l-arginine (TRLA). Supplementation of l-arginine was administered by gavage (62.5mg/ml/day/rat). Physical training consisted of 60min/day, 5days/week, 0% grade, speed of 1.2km/h. The study lasted 8weeks. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial enriched fraction as well as cytoplasmic fractions were obtained for Western blotting and biochemical analyses. Protein expressions of transcriptor coactivator (PGC-1α), transcriptor factors (mtTFA), ATP synthase subunit c, cytochrome oxidase (COXIV), constitutive nitric oxide synthases (eNOS and nNOS), Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and manganese-SOD (Mn-SOD) were evaluated. We also assessed in plasma: lipid profile, glycemia and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The nitrite/nitrate (NOx(-)) levels were measured in both plasma and cytosol fraction of the gastrocnemius muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  8-week l-arginine supplementation associated with physical training was effective in promoting greater tolerance to exercise that was accompanied by up-regulation of the protein expressions of mtTFA, PGC-1α, ATP synthase subunit c, COXIV, Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. The upstream pathway was associated with improvement of NO bioavailability, but not in NO production since no changes in nNOS or eNOS protein expressions were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This combination would be an alternative approach for preventing cardiometabolic diseases given that in overt diseases a profound impairment in the physical performance of the patients is observed.
authors: Laboratory of cardiovascular Physiology and physical activity, Institute of Bioscience, Univ Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
authors: Carmem Peres
authors: CP
authors: Valgas da Silva
authors: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Maria Andréia
authors: MA
authors: Delbin
authors: Clinical Pathology, FCM, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Paolo G
authors: PG
authors: La Guardia
authors: Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Carolina Soares
authors: CS
authors: Moura
authors: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Ana Paula Couto
authors: AP
authors: Davel
authors: Laboratory of cardiovascular Physiology and physical activity, Institute of Bioscience, Univ Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
authors: Fernanda Bruschi
authors: FB
authors: Priviero
authors: Laboratory of cardiovascular Physiology and physical activity, Institute of Bioscience, Univ Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: azanesco@rc.unesp.br.
authors: Angelina
authors: A
authors: Zanesco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D005082:Physical Exertion; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; C501429:Ppargc1a protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: ATP synthase subunit c; Antioxidant enzymes; Mitochondria; Nitric oxide; Physical training; Skeletal muscle