Aerobic exercise improves renal fibrosis in aged rats / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the effect of regular aerobic exercise on renal fibrosis and its mechanism.Methods:Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a young control group (YC group), an old control group (OC) and an old exercise group (OE), each of 10. The YC and OC groups were kept quietly in cages, while the OE group performed moderate-intensity treadmill aerobic exercise for 8 weeks. After the experiment, renal function was evaluated by measuring 24h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr). The degree of renal fibrosis was detected by Masson staining, and the expressions of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF- β 1), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), phosphorylated p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK), E-cadherin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were measured using western blotting. Results:Compared with the YC group, a significant increase was observed in the OC group in average 24h urine protein, BUN and SCr, but also in the degree of renal fibrosis, the protein expression of TGF-β 1, p-p38MAPK and α-SMA. There was a significant decrease in the average expression of E-cadherin. Compared with the OC group, the average 24h urine protein, BUN and SCr, the degree of renal fibrosis, the expression of TGF-β 1, p-p38MAPK and α-SMA protein had all decreased significantly in OE group, while the average expression of E-cadherin had increased significantly. Conclusions:Aerobic exercise relieves renal fibrosis in elderly rats, perhaps through inhibiting the TGF-β 1/p38MAPK signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.