Annals of clinical and laboratory science
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2005
Swimming exercise training prior to acute myocardial infarction attenuates left ventricular remodeling and improves left ventricular function in rats.
The effect of exercise training prior to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on left ventricular (LV) remodeling is poorly understood. This study investigated the protective effect of 3 weeks of swimming exercise training prior to AMI on cardiac morphology and function. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 35) were randomly assigned to 3 groups: swimming training (n = 14, 90 min, 5 days/wk, 3 wk), sedentary (n =14), and controls (n = 7, no exercise, no MI). ⋯ Both LV-shortening fraction (SF%) and fractional area change (FAC%) were higher in the trained animals 4 wk post-AMI (39+/-12% vs 23+/-8%; p 0.002, and 48+/-14% vs. 38+/-9%; p 0.07, respectively). In conclusion, 3 wk of swimming exercise training prior to AMI significantly attenuated LV remodeling and improved LV function, despite no changes in LV dimensions or systolic function at the end of the exercise session. The data suggest that even a short-term training period is sufficient to induce cardiac protection.