Cardiovascular and autonomic modulation by the central nervous system after aerobic exercise training

Abstract

The autonomic nervous system plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis under normal and pathological conditions. The sympathetic tone, particularly for the cardiovascular system, is generated by sympathetic discharges originating in specific areas of the brainstem. Aerobic exercise training promotes several cardiovascular adjustments that are influenced by the central areas involved in the output of the autonomic nervous system. In this review, we emphasize the studies that investigate aerobic exercise training protocols to identify the cardiovascular adaptations that may be the result of central nervous system plasticity due to chronic exercise. The focus of our study is on some groups of neurons involved in sympathetic regulation. They include the nucleus tractus solitarii, caudal ventrolateral medulla and the rostral ventrolateral medulla that maintain and regulate the cardiac and vascular autonomic tonus. We also discuss studies that demonstrate the involvement of supramedullary areas in exercise training modulation, with emphasis on the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, an important area of integration for autonomic and neuroendocrine responses. The results of these studies suggest that the beneficial effects of physical activity may be due, at least in part, to reductions in sympathetic nervous system activity. Conversely, with the recent association of physical inactivity with chronic disease, these data may also suggest that increases in sympathetic nervous system activity contribute to the increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Moderate Treadmill Exercise Training Improves Cardiovascular and Nitrergic Response and Resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Mice

“…In fact, moderate physical activity is correlated with positive effects on the cardiovascular system (Martins-Pinge, 2011). It provides several cardiovascular benefits including the refurbishment of the heart and skeletal muscle (DiCarlo and Bishop, 1990; Mack et al, 1991), and improvements in the autonomic control of the heart (Brum et al, 2000).…”

“…Furthermore, the appearance of resting bradycardia is a characteristic marker of ET (Negrao et al, 1993; Brum et al, 2000), which was also found in our work at the end of the 9th week of training. The benefits to the cardiovascular system via central and peripheral mechanisms in humans and animals are also evident from the action of moderate physical activity (Fernandes and Zanesco, 2010; Martins-Pinge, 2011). …”

Cardiology in Brazilian scientific journals: an overview

“…In the sample studied, levothyroxine replacement improved exercise cardiopulmonary reserve, but no modification was found in recovery performance after exercise during this period of analysis. Martins-Pinge [33] focused on some groups of neurons involved in sympathetic regulation, including the nucleus tractus solitarii, caudal ventrolateral medulla and the rostral ventrolateral medulla that maintain and regulate the cardiac and vascular autonomic tonus. The results of these studies suggest that the beneficial effects of physical activity may be due, at least in part, to reductions in sympathetic nervous system activity.…”

Endurance training induces structural and morphoquantitative changes in rat vagus nerve

“…1,2,3 However, quantitative studies on the beneficial effects of endurance training on visceral nerves are scarce and these studies are referred especially to functional aspects of the nerves rather than the morphological or quantitative aspects. [4][5][6][7][8] Goldsmith et al 4 and Iellano et al 5 demonstrated that moderate endurance exercise increases the vagal tonus and diminishes the action of the sympathetic nerve, protecting the heart.…”