Given that few studies have examined the interaction between endocrine-inflammatory mediators and aerobic exercise training in hypertensive postmenopausal women, the aim of this study was to investigate whether aerobic exercise training (AET) for twenty-four sessions would alter cortisol, leptin and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels. To further analyze endothelium function in response to AET, we also examined redox state as well as NO/cGMP pathway in this population. Eighteen hypertensive postmenopausal women finished this study. AET program consisted of 24 sessions in treadmill, 3 times per week, duration of 30 up to 40 min for each session, for 8 weeks at intensity of 100% of the MLSS according to previous incremental test. Heart rate was monitored in all studied time (resting and during exercise sessions). After 48 h of the last exercise session, blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses (levels of cortisol, leptin, IL-1β, nitrite/nitrate (NOx−), cGMP, malondialdehyde (MDA) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA); superoxide and catalase activity). We also measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A significant reduction in body mass was observed. As expected, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were significantly reduced after AET in hypertensive women. We also found a marked increase in NOx− levels as well as cGMP concentration in trained women, approximately 37.7 and 30.8%, respectively. No changes in cortisol, leptin, ADMA and IL-1β levels were observed after AET. Similarly, MDA levels and catalase activity were not affected by AET. In contrast, a marked increase in SOD activity was found (86.6%). In conclusion, our findings show that aerobic exercise training for twenty-four sessions promoted a significant reduction in blood pressure by activating NO/cGMP pathway as well as by promoting an up-regulation of SOD activity without changing in cortisol/leptin levels in postmenopausal hypertensive women.

Evidences have shown that postmenopausal women are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications as compared with premenopausal, but the insight mechanisms are not fully understood. On the other hand, no studies have examined the interaction between endocrine and cardiovascular biomarkers in trained postmenopausal women. The aim of this study is to evaluate steroids hormones and cardiovascular biomarkers in trained hypertensive (HT) postmenopausal women at basal condition or submitted to acute challenges of L-arginine, placebo or a bout of exercise. Methods: Twenty-two women underwent to ET on treadmill, 3 days/week, 40 min, for 24 sessions, at moderate intensity. Volunteers were randomized into three groups, where an acute administration of L-arginine (9g) was given (ARG group), a challenge of a bout of aerobic exercise (30 min) was applied with placebo pills (EXE group) or the combination of the both challenges (ARG-EXE group). The challenges were applied before and after ET. Office blood pressure (BP) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) were evaluated. Biochemical analyses measuring nitrite/nitrate (NOx), cGMP, total testosterone, cortisol levels and redox state were examined during the challenges and after overnight fasting, before and after ET. Effect of ET: Reduction in body mass index was found after ET whereas no changes were observed in the officce BD or ABPM. Similarly, testoterone, cortisol, NOx- and MDA levels as well as in catalase activity wre not altered. An increase in the cGMP concentration (basal: 5.0 ± 0.4 and ET: 6.3 ± 0.7 pmol/mL) and SOD activity (basal: 15.6 ± 2 and ET: 28.1 ± 1.6 u/mL) were observed after ET. Effect of challenges: Reduction in SBP (-14 mmHg) and DBP (-12 mmHg) values were observed in ARG-EXE group in office measurements. In both challenge groups (EXE and ARG-EXE), a significant increase in NOx- levels (EXE: 57% and ARG-EXE: 65%) as well as cGMP concentration (EXE: 19% and ARG-EXE: 37%) were found. Cortisol levels were significantly reduced in EXE (-21%) and ARG-EXE (-24%) groups. Conclusion: A reduction in BP that was accompanied by increased activation of the NO/cGMP pathway and a decrease in cortisol levels in trained HT women.