Elderly rat heart shows long-lasting impairment of oxidative balance after forced exercise at early age.

It is well known that aging process alters cardiac physiology and the energy metabolism.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered a key factor in the heart aging process. It has been demonstrated that activity of antioxidant systems are modified in aging and consequent weak resistance to ROS accumulation. Studies suggest that exercises ameliorate the process induced by aging. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-lasting effects of physical training during the period of critical brain development (i.e 15 - 45 days of age) on oxidative balance in elderly hearts (585 days of age). The treadmill exercise of the rats was performed as previously described (Batista-de-Oliveira et al.Experim. Gerontol. 47:452–457). Malondialdehyde-MDA formation was measured as described by Buege & Aust (Methods Enzymol 52, 302-310), Carbonyl content as described by Levine et al. (Methods Enzymol 233:346-57), GSH levels by Hissin & Hilf (Analytical Biochemistry 74:214-216), SOD activity by Misra & Fr...