title: Impact of aging on cardiac function in a female rat model of menopause: role of autonomic control, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aging on metabolic, cardiovascular, autonomic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters after ovarian hormone deprivation (OVX).
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Wistar rats (3 or 22 months old) were divided into: young controls, young ovariectomized, old controls, and old ovariectomized (bilateral ovaries removal). After a 9-week follow-up, physical capacity, metabolic parameters, and morphometric and cardiac functions were assessed. Subsequently, arterial pressure was recorded and cardiac autonomic control was evaluated. Oxidative stress was measured on the cardiac tissue, while inflammatory profile was assessed in the plasma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aging or OVX caused an increase in body and fat weight and triglyceride concentration and a decrease in both insulin sensitivity and aerobic exercise capacity. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased cardiac overload (myocardial performance index) were reported in old groups when compared with young groups. Aging and OVX led to an increased sympathetic tonus, and vagal tonus was lower only for the old groups. Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 were increased in old groups when compared with young groups. Glutathione redox balance (GSH/GSSG) was reduced in young ovariectomized, old controls, and old ovariectomized groups when compared with young controls, indicating an increased oxidative stress. A negative correlation was found between GSH/GSSG and tumor necrosis factor-α (r=-0.6, P<0.003). Correlations were found between interleukin-6 with adipose tissue (r=0.5, P<0.009) and vagal tonus (r=-0.7, P<0.0002); and among myocardial performance index with interleukin-6 (r=0.65, P<0.0002), sympathetic tonus (r=0.55, P<0.006), and physical capacity (r=-0.55, P<0.003). The findings in this trial showed that ovariectomy aggravated the impairment of cardiac and functional effects of aging in female rats, probably associated with exacerbated autonomic dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Institute of Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Freire
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Machi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle da Silva
authors.initials: Dda S
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sarah Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Oscar Albuquerque
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maikon Barbosa
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Lázara
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Health Adult and Child, Federal University of Maranhao (UFMA), São Luiz, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mostarda
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera M C
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Salemi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kátia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria-Cláudia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Irigoyen
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: aerobic exercise; aging; autonomic nervous system; female rats