Cardioprotective effects of physical exercise on redox biology in mice exposed to hand-rolled cornhusk cigarette smoke.

The present study sought to evaluate the effects of physical training on histological parameters and oxidative stress in the myocardium of mice chronically exposed to hand-rolled cornhusk cigarette (HRCC) smoke. Male Swiss mice (60 days old, 30-35 g) were either exposed to ambient air or passively exposed to the smoke of 12 cigarettes daily over 3 sessions (4 cigarettes per session) for 60 consecutive days with or without physical training for 8 weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, the heart was surgically removed for histological analysis and measurement of oxidative stress parameters. Histological imaging revealed cell disruption, with poorly defined nuclei, in the mice exposed to HRCC smoke, but not in the control group. However, mice exposed to HRCC smoke with physical training displayed signs of tissue repair and improved tissue integrity. Biochemical analysis revealed decreased production of superoxide, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF), and nitrite, as well as decreased protein carbonylation, in the physical training groups, likely due to the exercise-induced increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity and glutathione (GSH) content. Taken together, our results suggest that physical exercise exerts cardioprotective effects by modulating the redox responses in animals exposed to HRCC smoke.

The role of continuous versus fractionated physical training on muscle oxidative stress parameters and calcium-handling proteins in aged rats.

Age-associated decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength is associated with oxidative stress and Ca(2+) homeostasis disturbance. Exercise should be considered a viable modality to combat aging of skeletal muscle. This study aimed to investigate whether continuous and fractionated training could be useful tools to attenuate oxidative damage and retain calcium-handling proteins. We conducted the study using 24-month-old male Wistar rats, divided into control, continuous, and fractionated groups. Animals ran at 13 m min(-1) for five consecutive days (except weekends) for 6 weeks, for a total period of 42 days. Each session comprised 45 min of exercise, either continuous or divided into three daily sessions of 15 min each. Metabolic and oxidative stress markers, protein levels of mitochondrial transcription factors, and calcium-handling proteins were analyzed. Continuous exercise resulted in reduced ROS production as well as showed a decrease in TBARS levels and carbonyl content. On the other hand, fractionated training increased the antioxidant enzyme activities. The ryanodine receptor and phospholamban protein were regulated by continuous training while sodium calcium exchange protein was increased by the fractionated training. These data suggest that intracellular Ca(2+) can be modulated by various training stimuli. In addition, the modulation of oxidative stress by continuous and fractionated training may play an important regulatory role in the muscular contraction mechanism of aged rats, due to changes in calcium metabolism.

Effects of phonophoresis and gold nanoparticles in experimental model of muscle overuse: role of oxidative stress.

The aim of the study described here was to investigate the effects of pulsed ultrasound and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on behavioral, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters in an experimental model of overuse. Wistar rats performed 21 d of exercise on a treadmill at different intensities and were exposed to ultrasound in the presence or absence of AuNPs. The overuse model promoted behavioral changes and increased creatine kinase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity, as well as the levels of superoxide, nitrotyrosine, nitric oxide, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, carbonyl, tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6. These values were significantly decreased by AuNPs and by AuNPs plus ultrasound. Catalase activity remained unchanged and the glutathione level increased significantly after exposure to AuNPs plus ultrasound. These results suggest a susceptibility to anxiety as well as elevated levels of oxidative stress. However, therapeutic interventions with AuNPs plus ultrasound reduced the production of oxidants and oxidative damage and improved the anti-oxidant defense system.

The dose-dependent antioxidant effects of physical exercise in the hippocampus of mice.

Exercise increases both the consumption of oxygen and the production of reactive species in biological tissues, and this is counterbalanced by antioxidant adaptations to regular physical training. When the intensity of exercise fluctuates between mild and moderate, it improves the status of reduction-oxidation balance in the brain and induces neuroplasticity. However, intense exercise can oxidize the brain and impair neurological function. The effect of the frequency of exercise, which is an important factor in physical training, is still unknown. The effect of periodic exercise on biomarkers of oxidative stress in the hippocampus of mice was evaluated in this study. Mice were made to run on a treadmill for 8 weeks, two, three, or five times per week, and their hippocampi and quadriceps femoris muscles were then dissected. Biomarkers of oxidative damage were negatively correlated with the frequency of exercise and mitochondrial muscular activity, while the sulfhydryl contents were positively correlated with exercise frequency. A logistic analysis revealed a dose-dependent effect of exercise on these biomarkers. In summary, these results suggested that manipulating the frequency of physical exercise could induce antioxidant-related adaptations in the hippocampi of adult mice.

Effects of taurine supplementation following eccentric exercise in young adults.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of taurine supplementation on muscle performance, oxidative stress, and inflammation response after eccentric exercise (EE) in males. Twenty-one participants (mean age, 21 ± 6 years; weight, 78.2 ± 5 kg; height, 176 ± 7 cm) were selected and randomly divided into two groups: placebo (n = 10) and taurine (n = 11). Fourteen days after starting supplementation, subjects performed EE (3 sets until exhaustion, with EE of the elbow flexors on the Scott bench, 80% 1 repetition maximum (RM)). Blood samples were collected and muscle performance was measured on days 1, 14, 16, 18, and 21 after starting the supplements. Then, performance, muscle damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers were analyzed. The taurine supplementation resulted in increased strength levels and thiol total content and decreased muscle soreness, lactate dehydrogenase level, creatine kinase activity, and oxidative damage (xylenol and protein carbonyl). Antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and gluthatione peroxidase) and inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and interleukin-10 (IL-10)) were not altered during the recovery period compared with the placebo group. The results suggest that taurine supplementation represents an important factor in improving performance and decreasing muscle damage and oxidative stress but does not decrease the inflammatory response after EE.

Efeito de diferentes frequências semanais de treinamento sobre parâmetros de estresse oxidativo / Effect of different frequencies weekly training on parameters of oxidative stress

Durante a contração muscular intensa induzida pelo exercício físico, há aumento na produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio, ocasionando estresse oxidativo em diversos órgãos, dentre eles o fígado e o coração. O treinamento físico pode aumentar as defesas antioxidantes e diminuir o estresse oxidativo. Contudo, ainda existem dúvidas sobre a frequência de treinamento necessária para melhorar parâmetros de estresse oxidativo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo verificar o efeito das frequências de duas e três vezes de exercício por semana sobre biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo no fígado e coração. Foram utilizados 18 camundongos machos (CF1), jovens (30 a 35g) divididos em grupos (n=6/grupo): não treinado (NT); treinado duas vezes por semana (T2) e treinado três vezes por semana (T3). Os animais foram submetidos ao treinamento durante oito semanas. Quarenta e oito horas após a última sessão os animais foram sacrificados. O fígado e o coração foram removidos e armazenados em freezer - 70ºC. Foram analisadas as substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico, carbonilação de proteínas, conteúdo total de tióis, atividades da superóxido dismutase , catalase e glutationa peroxidase. Os resultados demonstraram que apenas o grupo T3 reduziu dano oxidativo. Ademais, houve aumento no conteúdo total de tióis, atividades da superóxido dismutase e catalase no mesmo grupo em comparação com o não treinado. A atividade da glutationa peroxidase não apresentou diferença significativa entre os grupos. Este estudo demonstrou que somente a frequência de treinamento de três vezes por semana reduz dano oxidativo e aumenta a eficiência do sistema enzimático antioxidante de camundongos.

Intense muscle contraction induced by physical exercise increases the production of reactive oxygen species, which causes oxidative stress in several organs, such as the liver and the heart. Physical training may increase antioxidative defenses and decrease oxidative stress. However, it is not clear what training frequency improves oxidative stress parameters. This study evaluated the effect of training two and three times a week on oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver and the heart. Eighteen young male mice (CF1) weighing 30 to 35 g were divided into three groups (n=6): no training (NT); twice a week training (T2); and three times a week training (T3). The training program lasted eight weeks, and the animals were killed 48 hours after the last training session. The liver and the heart were removed and stored at -70o C. The following analyses were conducted: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, protein carbonylation, total thiol content, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Oxidative damage was reduced only in the T3 group, and there was an increase in total thiol content, supeoxidase dismutase and catalase in T3 when compared with the NT group. Glutathione peroxidase was not significantly different between groups. Only training three times a week seemed to reduce oxidative stress and increase the efficiency of the antioxidant system in mice.