Effect of training on beta1 beta2 beta3 adrenergic and M2 muscarinic receptors in rat heart.

OBJECTIVE: Physical training is known to alter several cardiovascular parameters. These adaptations are for a great part linked to an alteration of the myocardial responses to its autonomic nervous regulation. To further explain the parasympathetic and catecholamine effects, we hypothesized that endurance training could modify rat myocardial beta1, beta2, beta3 adrenoreceptors (AR) and M2 muscarinic cholinergic receptor (AchR) densities. METHODS: Two groups of adults female Wistar rats were studied: controls (C) (N = 7) and trained (T) (N = 9). An 8-wk treadmill training protocol was performed, 5 d x wk and of 1 h x d. At the end of the training session, left ventricle and atria muscle were isolated and weighed. Then, quantification of beta1, beta2, beta3 AR and M2 AchR was performed using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: M2 AchR densities were not modified in left ventricle or in atria by training (respectively, 100 +/- 22%, C vs 101 +/- 14%, T and 100 +/- 23%, C vs 119 +/- 30%, T). Concerning the left ventricle beta AR isoforms, beta1AR density was decreased in T (80 +/- 10% T vs 100 +/- 14% C, P = 0.01), beta2AR was unaltered (102 +/- 12%, T vs 100 +/- 17%, C), and beta3 AR density was increased in T (139 +/- 38% T vs 100 +/- 15% C; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show for the first time that in female rats an 8-wk treadmill training protocol alters specifically the left ventricle beta AR isoforms densities but not the M2 AchR one. These results could explain some of the beneficial cardiovascular adaptations of the physically trained heart.

[Catecholamine response to the Wingate test in untrained women]. / Réponse en catécholamines à l'épreuve de Wingate chez la femme non-entraînée.

Supramaximal exercises are well known to induce a severe stress on the adrenal medulla and nervous sympathetic system. This stress induces increased plasma catecholamines concentrations. The responses of catecholamines to supramaximal exercises in women are still not well characterized and have been studied mostly in trained subjects. Hence the aim of the present study was to evaluate plasma catecholamine responses to a Wingate test in young and untrained women (n = 6) and men (n = 7). Venous plasma catecholamine concentrations were determined by HPLC, at rest, at the end of the warm-up and of the exercise, and during recovery (5, 10, 20, and 30 mn). Our results failed to show any significant difference in resting catecholamine concentrations ([A]p: 0.41 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.05 nmol. L-1; [NA]p: 3.28 +/- 0.68 vs. 2.58 +/- 0.26 nmol.L-1), kinetics, and maximal plasma catecholamine concentrations (Amax: 4.47 +/- 1.08 vs. 3.31 +/- 0.63 nmol.L-1; NAmax: 18.05 +/- 1.11 vs. 14.01 +/- 2.02 nmol.L-1) in response to the Wingate test between women and men, respectively. The Amax/NAmax ratio used as an index of adrenal medulla sensitivity to sympathetic input was also similar between genders. In conclusion, this study was able to demonstrate, in untrained subjects, that gender did not alder the sympatho-adrenergic response induced by a severe stress.