Exercise Improves Flow-Mediated Vasodilatation of Skeletal Muscle Arteries in Rats With Chronic Heart Failure

Abstract

CHF abolishes the FMD of small arteries by impairing the nitric oxide pathway, increasing oxidant stress, and releasing a prostanoid-contracting factor. Exercise partially restores FMD by increasing expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and preventing the production of vasoconstrictor prostanoids and free radicals. Such restoration of FMD might contribute to the increase in exercise capacity after physical exercise in CHF.

Influence of Vitamin C on Baroreflex Sensitivity in Chronic Heart Failure

“…ndothelial dysfunction associated with heart failure provokes exercise intolerance [1][2][3][4] and is implicated in the progression of disease. 5,6 Evidence from animal studies suggests that diminished baroreflex sensitivity is caused by endothelial dysfunction.…”

Long-Term Heart Rate Reduction Induced by the Selective I f Current Inhibitor Ivabradine Improves Left Ventricular Function and Intrinsic Myocardial Structure in Congestive Heart Failure

“…Moreover, because the heart rate-diastolic time relation is nonlinear, the decrease in heart rate induced by ivabradine most likely results in an increase in the diastolic part of the cardiac cycle, 25 leading to an enhanced coronary perfusion time and thus increasing myocardial perfusion, especially to the deeper layer. 26 Finally, an increase in coronary perfusion due to HRR would prevent the development of coronary endothelial dysfunction provoked by the long-term decreased perfusion observed in CHF 27,28 and, by preventing local hypoxia, could diminish the local production of cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-␣, 29 free radicals, 30 and/or vasoconstrictors such as endothelin, 31 all factors implicated in the deterioration of LV function/remodeling and intrinsic tissue structure. Furthermore, in terms of myocardial O 2 demand and tissue protective effects, the improvement in LV filling induced by the decrease in heart rate may diminish the level of sympathetic activity, as suggested by the decrease in noradrenaline plasma levels.…”

Tissue Doppler Imaging Differentiates Physiological From Pathological Pressure-Overload Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Rats

“…Swimming sessions were supervised to avoid floating and/or clinging of individual animals. 14 Fourteen rats were subjected to abdominal aortic banding between the origin of the two renal arteries. All animals had an echocardiographic evaluation 2 months after aortic banding.…”