Exercise Training Could Improve Age-Related Changes in Cerebral Blood Flow and Capillary Vascularity through the Upregulation of VEGF and eNOS

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise training on age-induced microvascular alterations in the brain. Additionally, the association with the protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was also assessed. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sedentary-young (SE-Young, n = 5), sedentary aged (SE-Aged, n = 8), immersed-aged (IM-Aged, n = 5), and exercise trained-aged (ET-Aged, 60 minutes/day and 5 days/week for 8 weeks, n = 8) rats. The MAPs of all aged groups, SE-Aged, IM-Aged, and ET-Aged, were significantly higher than that of the SE-Young group. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the SE-Aged and IM-Aged was significantly decreased as compared to SE-Young groups. However, rCBF of ET-Aged group was significantly higher than that in the IM-Aged group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the percentage of capillary vascularity (%CV) and the levels of VEGF and eNOS in the ET-Aged group were significantly increased compared to the IM-Aged group (P < 0.05). These results imply that exercise training could improve age-induced microvascular changes and hypoperfusion closely associated with the upregulation of VEGF and eNOS.

Muscle weakness during aging: a deficiency state involving declining angiogenesis

“…An explanation of the latter results may be tissue shrinkage in aged brains, which was discussed in a previous paper . els of VEGF in the parietal cortex of old rats (Viboolvorakul and Patumraj, 2014). When specifically looked for, a comparable decline of AG factors in the aged human brain may likely be found, consistent with the above report on rats and comparable to lower levels in aged muscle -as treated next.…”

“…In a previous publication are summarized 18 studies showing reduced CD in the aged brains of people and animals . To that list can be added two similar recent reports in rat brains (Desjardins et al, 2014;Viboolvorakul and Patumraj, 2014). Age-lined reduced CD has also been found in rat kidney Kang et al (2001): Table 2, #7, in the subendothelium of rat heart (Iemitsu et al, 2006), and in sponges placed in wounds of mice.…”

“…Reduced levels of AG factors have also been found in the brain (left parietal cortex) of aged rats (Viboolvorakul and Patumraj, 2014), in the heart (left ventricular wall) of aged rats (Iemitsu et al, 2006), and in two reports of sponge implants in mice Sadoun and Reed, 2003). Thus there are 11 reports of depressed levels of AG factors in various organs (or implants) of aged persons and animals.…”

Pro-Angiogenesis Therapy and Aging: A Mini-Review

“…While there are no published reports on levels of angiogenic factors in the aging human brain, Viboolvorakul and Patumraj [27] found reduced VEGF protein in the parietal cortex of aged rats; e.g., values of 32.3 pg/mg protein in 4-5-month-old rats versus 20.5 pg/mg protein in 23-24-month-old rats. Reduced levels of VEGF protein and/or messenger RNA VEGF have been recorded in other organ systems of aged mice, rats, or humans -i.e., in the muscles, kidney medulla, vein wall, mononuclear cells, and macrophages.…”

“…In Table 2 , 10 representative data pairs showing diminished levels of angiogenic factors in 6 organs or cell systems of aged people and animals are listed. [19,[27][28][29][30][31][32] . A general decline in AG throughout the human body would account for the reduced CD observed in many organ systems of the elderly.…”