title: Cardioprotective effects of voluntary exercise in a rat model: role of matrix metalloproteinase-2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regular exercise at moderate intensity reduces cardiovascular risks. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a major role in cardiac remodeling, facilitating physiological adaptation to exercise. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of voluntary physical exercise on the MMP-2 enzyme activity and to investigate the cardiac performance by measurement of angina susceptibility of the heart, the basal blood pressure, the surviving aorta ring contraction, and the cardiac infarct size after I/R-induced injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into control and exercising groups. After a 6-week period, the serum level of MMP-2, basal blood pressure, cardiac angina susceptibility (the ST segment depression provoked by epinephrine and 30 s later phentolamine), AVP-induced heart perfusion and aorta ring contraction, infarct size following 30 min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion, and coronary effluent MMP-2 activity were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Voluntary wheel-running exercise decreased both the sera (64 kDa and 72 kDa) and the coronary effluent (64 kDa) MMP-2 level, reduced the development of ST depression, improved the isolated heart perfusion, and decreased the ratio of infarct size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  6 weeks of voluntary exercise training preserved the heart against cardiac injury. This protective mechanism might be associated with the decreased activity of MMP-2.
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Anikó
authors: A
authors: Pósa
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Renáta
authors: 0000-0001-7881-2082
authors: R
authors: Szabó
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Krisztina
authors: 0000-0002-0644-1718
authors: K
authors: Kupai
authors: Faculty of Dentistry and Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Szeged, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Baráth
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Zita
authors: Z
authors: Szalai
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Anett
authors: 0000-0002-9365-9837
authors: A
authors: Csonka
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Médea
authors: M
authors: Veszelka
authors: Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Mariann
authors: 0000-0002-7083-2107
authors: M
authors: Gyöngyösi
authors: Institute of Sport Science, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Semmelweis University, Alkotas Ucta 44, Budapest 1123, Hungary.
authors: Zsolt
authors: Z
authors: Radák
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Ménesi
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Imre
authors: I
authors: Pávó
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Anikó Magyariné
authors: AM
authors: Berkó
authors: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Kozep Fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
authors: Csaba
authors: C
authors: Varga
mesh_terms: D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000633:toxicity; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000633:toxicity; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D004837:Epinephrine; D010646:Phentolamine