Animal exercise studies in cardiovascular research: Current knowledge and optimal design—A position paper of the Committee on Cardiac Rehabilitation, Chinese Medical Doctors’ Association

Abstract

Highlights Standard procedures and appropriate assessment of exercise are proposed for the commonly used animal models related to chronic exercise (e.g., treadmill running, voluntary wheel running, swimming exercise, and resistance exercise) in cardiovascular research. Optimal design of animal exercise studies in cardiovascular research should consider the choice of exercise models, control of exercise protocols, exercise at different stages of disease, and other factors, such as age, sex, and genetic background. An optimal design for studying exercise-induced physiological cardiac growth and its related beneficial effects against cardiovascular diseases is presented.

Editorial: Highlights in General Cardiovascular Medicine: 2021

“…A growing number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses are published in recent years and used as sources of evidence in clinical and animal cardiology guidelines ( 2 – 4 ). However, concerns have been raised regarding the expertise, quality, and methodological standards of many systemic reviews ( 5 , 6 ).…”

Physical Exercise Protects Against Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases

“…Endothelial dysfunction is a key feature of CAD and chronic heart failure (CHF). Numerous clinical trials showed that ET is an effective countermeasure for the injured endothelium in CAD and CHF patients [79]. The protective effects of 4 weeks of ET on endothelial dysfunction in patients with CAD (10 training patients and 9 control patients) were demonstrated by the improvement of Ach-induced vasoconstrictive responses and the increased mean peak flow velocity both in epicardial coronary vessels and in resistance vessels [80].…”

Inhibition of HIPK2 protects stress-induced pathological cardiac remodeling

“… 1 Pathological myocardial remodeling is an early sign and a risk factor of heart failure, which may be caused by multiple stresses including hypertension and myocardial infarction. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 However, the regulatory mechanisms of pathological cardiac remodeling and heart failure remain to be fully elucidated. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 On the other hand, although increasingly advanced medical therapies can improve the symptoms of heart failure, it is still unable to prevent further development or reverse pathological progression.…”

“… 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 However, the regulatory mechanisms of pathological cardiac remodeling and heart failure remain to be fully elucidated. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 On the other hand, although increasingly advanced medical therapies can improve the symptoms of heart failure, it is still unable to prevent further development or reverse pathological progression. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 There is an urgent need of developing effective treatments of heart failure.…”

“… 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 On the other hand, although increasingly advanced medical therapies can improve the symptoms of heart failure, it is still unable to prevent further development or reverse pathological progression. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 There is an urgent need of developing effective treatments of heart failure. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 …”