Mild exercise along with limb blood-flow restriction modulates the electrocardiogram, angiotensin, and apelin receptors of the heart in aging rats

Abstract

<em><strong>Objective(s):</strong></em> Considering the lack of information, the effects of mild endurance exercise plus blood flow restriction (BFR) on electrocardiographic parameters, hypertrophy index, and expression of angiotensin II receptors type 1 (AT1R) and type 2 (AT2R) and apelin receptor (APJ) were assessed in hearts of old male rats.<br /><em><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong></em> Animal were grouped as control (CTL), Sham (Sh), lower extremities blood flow restriction (BFR), exercise (Ex), Sham + exercise (Sh + Ex), and blood flow restriction + exercise (BFR + Ex).<br /><em><strong>Results:</strong></em> Exercise plus BFR significantly decreased the corrected QT (QTc) interval (P<em><strong>Conclusion:</strong></em> Mild endurance exercise plus BFR can alter the expression of angiotensin II and apelin receptors that leads to cardiac hypertrophy and improves the ventricular conductivity of aging rats.