The effect of blood flow restriction along with low-intensity exercise on cardiac structure and function in aging rat: Role of angiogenesis

Abstract Aims Low-intensity aerobic training along with limbs blood flow restriction can improve mass and strength of skeletal muscle, but its effects on aging heart structure and performance is unidentified. We investigated the effects of this model of training on myocardial function, histology and angiogenesis in old male rats. Main methods Animals randomly were divided into control (Ctl), sham-operated (Sh), limbs blood flow restriction (BFR), sham-operated plus 10 weeks low intensity treadmill exercise (Sh + Ex), and BFR plus exercise (BFR + Ex) groups. Finally, blood pressure, heart physiological and stereological parameters, myocardial oxygen consumption index and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (Flt-1 and kdr) were assessed. Key findings BFR + Ex group had significantly lower heart rate (P  t max (P  t max (P  The level of VEGF and Flt-1 proteins and their mRNAs increased in the BFR + Ex group compared to Ctl, Sh and BFR (P  Significance Findings suggest that BFR plus exercise through improving the angiogenesis, physiological cardiac remodeling and oxygen demand/supply matching can promote cardiac performance in the elderly rats.