Resistance training evokes myocardial adaptation; however, the effects of a single
resistance exercise session on cardiac performance are poorly understood or
investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a single resistance
exercise session on the myocardial contractility of spontaneously hypertensive rats
(SHRs). Male 3-month-old SHRs were divided into two groups: control (Ct) and exercise
(Ex). Control animals were submitted to sham exercise. Blood pressure was measured in
conscious rats before the exercise session to confirm the presence of arterial
hypertension. Ten minutes after the exercise session, the animals were anesthetized
and killed, and the hearts were removed. Cardiac contractility was evaluated in the
whole heart by the Langendorff technique and by isometric contractions of isolated
left ventricular papillary muscles. SERCA2a, phospholamban (PLB), and phosphorylated
PLB expression were investigated by Western blot. Exercise increased force
development of isolated papillary muscles (Ex=1.0±0.1 g/mg vs
Ct=0.63±0.2 g/mg, P<0.05). Post-rest contraction was greater in the exercised
animals (Ex=4.1±0.4% vs Ct=1.7±0.2%, P<0.05). Papillary muscles
of exercised animals developed greater force under increasing isoproterenol
concentrations (P<0.05). In the isolated heart, exercise increased left
ventricular isovolumetric systolic pressure (LVISP; Δ +39 mmHg; P<0.05) from
baseline conditions. Hearts from the exercised rats presented a greater response to
increasing diastolic pressure. Positive inotropic intervention to calcium and
isoproterenol resulted in greater LVISP in exercised animals (P<0.05). The results
demonstrated that a single resistance exercise session improved myocardial
contractility in SHRs.