Impact of gender on benefits of exercise training on sympathetic nerve activity and muscle blood flow in heart failure

Abstract

AimsWe compared the effects of exercise training on neurovascular control and functional capacity in men and women with chronic heart failure (HF). Methods and resultsForty consecutive HF outpatients from the Heart Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil were divided into the following four groups matched by age: men exercise-trained (n ¼ 12), men untrained (n ¼ 10), women exercise-trained (n ¼ 9), women untrained (n ¼ 9). Maximal exercise capacity was determined from a maximal progressive exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was recorded directly using the technique of microneurography. There were no differences between groups in any baseline parameters. Exercise training produced a similar reduction in resting MSNA (P ¼ 0.000002) and forearm vascular resistance (P ¼ 0.0003), in men and women with HF. Peak VO 2 was similarly increased in men and women with HF (P ¼ 0.0003) and VE/VCO 2 slope was significantly decreased in men and women with HF (P ¼ 0.0007). There were no significant changes in left-ventricular ejection fraction in men and women with HF. ConclusionThe benefits of exercise training on neurovascular control and functional capacity in patients with HF are independent of gender.--

Respiratory muscle training improves hemodynamics, autonomic function, baroreceptor sensitivity, and respiratory mechanics in rats with heart failure

“…It reduces muscle sympathetic nervous activity and consequently, peripheral vascular resistance, promoting greater perfusion of peripheral muscles (13,43). There is also an improvement in functional capacity, as indicated by an increase in peak maximal oxygen consumption (1). Increases in resting HR are associated with high mortality, regardless of cause, in cardiovascular diseases, and particularly, in cardiac sudden death (27, 31).…”

“…myocardial infarction; cardiovascular control; diaphragm; cardiopulmonary interaction THE HALLMARK SYMPTOMS OF heart failure (HF) subsequent to myocardial infarction (MI) are dyspnea and early fatigue, leading to reduced exercise tolerance and functional capacity (1). Furthermore, after MI, the neurohumoral excitation, which initially helps to preserve the cardiac output of patients who have systolic dysfunction, becomes deleterious with the persistence of cardiac dysfunction (12).…”

Molecular basis for the improvement in muscle metaboreflex and mechanoreflex control in exercise-trained humans with chronic heart failure

“…Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was conducted at baseline and after 4 mo of exercise training or untrained control period, as previously described (2,10,43). Maximal exercise capacity was determined during a maximal progressive exercise test on cycle ergometer (Ergoline, Spirit 150), using a ramp protocol with work rate increments of 5-10 W every minute until exhaustion.…”

“…In addition, exercise training leads to a remarkable reduction in resting MSNA in HF patients regardless of age, gender, and presence of sleep apnea (1,2,36,43). Furthermore, the impact of exercise training on sympathetic responses during exercise in HF has not been studied.…”

Efeito do treinamento físico no controle mecanorreflexo e metaborreflexo da atividade nervosa simpática muscular em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca

“…Outro ponto importante para ressaltar em nosso estudo é a melhora da resistência vascular periférica e da capacidade funcional em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca após o treinamento físico. Estes resultados confirmam achados anteriores do nosso grupo 12,[57][58][59][60][61] . Uma maior perfusão no músculo esquelético aumenta a oferta de nutrientes, reduz os níveis de espécies reativas de oxigênio e citocinas inflamatórias e, em consequência, melhora as alterações metabólicas e estruturais nas fibras musculares na insuficiência cardíaca 15 .…”