Background: Physical exercise may modify biologic stress responses. Objective: To investigate the impact of exercise training on vascular alterations induced by acute stress, focusing on nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase pathways. Method: Wistar rats were separated into: sedentary, trained (60-min swimming, 5 days/week during 8 weeks, carrying a 5% body-weight load), stressed (2 h-immobilization), and trained/stressed. Response curves for noradrenaline, in the absence and presence of L-NAME or indomethacin, were obtained in intact and denuded aortas (n=7-10). Results: None of the procedures altered the denuded aorta reactivity. Intact aortas from stressed, trained, and trained/stressed rats showed similar reduction in noradrenaline maximal responses (sedentary 3.54±0.15, stressed 2.80±0.10*, trained 2.82±0.11*, trained/stressed 2.97± 0.21*, *P<0.05 relate to sedentary). Endothelium removal and L-NAME abolished this hyporeactivity in all experimental groups, except in trained/stressed rats that showed a partial aorta reactivity recovery in L-NAME presence (L-NAME: sedentary 5.23±0,26#, stressed 5.55±0.38#, trained 5.28±0.30#, trained/stressed 4.42±0.41, #P<0.05 related to trained/stressed). Indomethacin determined a decrease in sensitivity (EC50) in intact aortas of trained rats without abolishing the aortal hyporeactivity in trained, stressed, and trained/stressed rats. Conclusions: Exercise-induced vascular adaptive response involved an increase in endothelial vasodilator prostaglandins and nitric oxide. Stress-induced vascular adaptive response involved an increase in endothelial nitric oxide. Beside the involvement of the endothelial nitric oxide pathway, the vascular response of trained/stressed rats involved an additional mechanism yet to be elucidated. These findings advance on the understanding of the vascular processes after exercise and stress alone and in combination.

Fundamento: Estresse está associado com complicações cardiovasculares. Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar se o estresse crônico induz alterações vasculares, e se essas alterações são dependentes de óxido nítrico (NO) e Ca2+. Métodos: Ratos machos Wistar com 30 dias de idade foram separados em 2 grupos: controle (C) e Estresse (St). Utilizou-se estresse crônico de imobilização por 1 hora/dia, 5 dias/semana, 15 semanas. Pressão arterial sistólica foi avaliada. A função vascular foi avaliada em anéis aórticos. Curvas de concentração-efeito foram realizadas para noradrenalina, na presença de L-NAME ou prazosina, cloreto de potássio (KCl), acetilcolina e nitroprussiato de sódio. Também foi efetuado um estudo para avaliação para fluxo de Ca2+. Resultados: Estresse crônico induziu hipertensão e resposta vascular diminuída para noradrenalina e KCl e aumentada para acetilcolina. A pré-incubação com L-NAME eliminou a diferença para noradrenalina. A resposta contrátil vascular para Ca2+ foi reduzida em animais estressados. Conclusão: Nossos dados sugerem que a resposta vascular ao estresse crônico seria uma adaptação aos efeitos deletérios do estresse, incluindo a hipertensão. Além disso, esses mecanismos adaptativos dependem de liberação de NO e fluxo de Ca2+. Esses resultados ajudam a esclarecer os mecanismos envolvidos nas alterações cardiovasculares associadas ao estresse. Entretanto, mais estudos são necessários para a melhor compreensão desses mecanismos.

Background: Stress is associated with cardiovascular diseases. Objective: This study aimed at assessing whether chronic stress induces vascular alterations, and whether these modulations are nitric oxide (NO) and Ca2+ dependent. Methods: Wistar rats, 30 days of age, were separated into 2 groups: control (C) and Stress (St). Chronic stress consisted of immobilization for 1 hour/day, 5 days/week, 15 weeks. Systolic blood pressure was assessed. Vascular studies on aortic rings were performed. Concentration-effect curves were built for noradrenaline, in the presence of L-NAME or prazosin, acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside and KCl. In addition, Ca2+ flux was also evaluated. Results: Chronic stress induced hypertension, decreased the vascular response to KCl and to noradrenaline, and increased the vascular response to acetylcholine. L-NAME blunted the difference observed in noradrenaline curves. Furthermore, contractile response to Ca2+ was decreased in the aorta of stressed rats. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the vascular response to chronic stress is an adaptation to its deleterious effects, such as hypertension. In addition, this adaptation is NO- and Ca2+-dependent. These data help to clarify the contribution of stress to cardiovascular abnormalities. However, further studies are necessary to better elucidate the mechanisms involved in the cardiovascular dysfunction associated with stressors. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2014; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o papel do estresse crônico sobre parâmetros metabólicos e nutricionais de ratos expostos à dieta rica em gordura. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar machos (30 dias de idade/70-100 g) foram distribuídos em quatro grupos: dieta-normal (NC), estresse crônico (St), dieta rica em gordura (HD) e estresse crônico/dieta rica em gordura (HD/St). O estresse consistiu em imobilização durante 15 semanas, 5 vezes por semana 1h por dia e a dieta rica em gordura foi oferecida por 15 semanas. Parâmetros nutricionais e metabólicos foram avaliados. O nível de significância foi de 5%. RESULTADOS: HD tiveram peso corpóreo, gordura total e níveis de insulina e leptina aumentados e foram resistentes à insulina. Os grupos St e HD/St manifestaram hipertensão e níveis séricos de corticosterona elevados. O estresse bloqueou os efeitos da dieta. CONCLUSÃO: O estresse impediu o surgimento dela. Nossos resultados ajudam compreender os mecanismos envolvidos na disfunção metabólica e nutricional e contribuem para casos clínicos de estresse e dietas ricas em gorduras.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was assess the role of chronic stress on the metabolic and nutritional profile of rats exposed to a high-fat diet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-day-old male Wistar rats (70-100 g) were distributed into four groups: normal-diet (NC), chronic stress (St), high-fat diet (HD), and chronic stress/high-fat diet (HD/St). Stress consisted at immobilization during 15 weeks, 5 times per week, 1h per day; and exposure to the high-fat diet lasted 15 weeks. Nutritional and metabolic parameters were assessed. The level of significance was 5%. RESULTS: The HD group had final body weight, total fat, as well as insulin and leptin increased, and they were insulin resistant. The St and HD/St had arterial hypertension and increased levels of corticosterone. Stress blocked the effects of the high-fat diet. CONCLUSION: Chronic stress prevented the appearance of obesity. Our results help to clarify the mechanisms involved in metabolic and nutritional dysfunction, and contribute to clinical cases linked to stress and high-fat diet.

FUNDAMENTO: O estresse crônico está associado à remodelação cardíaca; entretanto, os mecanismos permanecem a ser descobertos. OBJETIVO: A proposta deste estudo foi testar a hipótese de que o estresse crônico promove disfunção cardíaca associada a depressão da atividade do canal-L para Ca2+. M MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar machos com 30 dias de idade (70 - 100 g) foram distribuídos dentro de dois grupos: controle (C) e estresse crônico (St). O estresse consistiu na imobilização durante 15 semanas, cinco vezes por semana, 1 h por dia. A função cardíaca foi avaliada pela performance do ventrículo esquerdo por meio do ecocardiograma e pelo músculo papilar ventricular isolado. A função do músculo papilar foi avaliada em condição basal e com manobras inotrópicas, como: pós-pausa e elevação na concentração extracelular de Ca2+, na presença ou ausência de um bloqueador específico de canal-L para Ca2+. RESULTADOS: O estresse ficou caracterizado por hipertrofia das glândulas adrenais, aumento nos níveis de corticosterona circulante e por hipertensão arterial. Ainda, o estresse crônico gerou hipertrofia ventricular esquerda. O estresse crônico foi capaz de melhorar a resposta no músculo papilar para manobras inotrópicas positivas. A melhora de função não esteve associada com o canal-L para Ca2+. CONCLUSÃO: O estresse produziu hipertrofia cardíaca; entretanto, nos estudos de músculo papilar isolado, as manobras inotrópicas positivas potencializaram a função cardíaca em ratos estressados, sem o envolvimento do canal-L para Ca2+. Assim os mecanismos responsáveis permanecem incertos para alterações no influxo de Ca2+.

BACKGROUND: Chronic stress is associated with cardiac remodeling; however the mechanisms have yet to be clarified. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was test the hypothesis that chronic stress promotes cardiac dysfunction associated to L-type calcium Ca2+ channel activity depression. METHODS: Thirty-day-old male Wistar rats (70 - 100 g) were distributed into two groups: control (C) and chronic stress (St). The stress was consistently maintained at immobilization during 15 weeks, 5 times per week, 1h per day. The cardiac function was evaluated by left ventricular performance through echocardiography and by ventricular isolated papillary muscle. The myocardial papillary muscle activity was assessed at baseline conditions and with inotropic maneuvers such as: post-rest contraction and increases in extracellular Ca2+ concentration, in presence or absence of specific blockers L-type calcium channels. RESULTS: The stress was characterized for adrenal glands hypertrophy, increase of systemic corticosterone level and arterial hypertension. The chronic stress provided left ventricular hypertrophy. The left ventricular and baseline myocardial function did not change with chronic stress. However, it improved the response of the papillary muscle in relation to positive inotropic stimulation. This function improvement was not associated with the L-type Ca2+ channel. CONCLUSION: Chronic stress produced cardiac hypertrophy; however, in the study of papillary muscle, the positive inotropic maneuvers potentiated cardiac function in stressed rats, without involvement of L-type Ca2+ channel. Thus, the responsible mechanisms remain unclear with respect to Ca2+ influx alterations.