Effect of endurance training on the expression profile of circRNA-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA in myocardial tissues of mice after exhaustive exercise

Objective:To clarify the effect of endurance training on the expression profile of circRNA-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA in myocardial tissues of mice after exhaustive exercise.Methods:A total of 45 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control(C),low-strength endurance training(LSET)and high-strength endurance training(HSET)groups(n=15).The mice in the control group were not conducted to platform training.The mice in the LSET and HSET groups were conducted to platform training at 30%and 60%of exhaustive exercise once a day for 5 days a week,respectively.The exhaustion exercise was performed after 5 weeks of platform training.Total RNA was extracted from myocardial tissues,and the expression profile of circRNA-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA in myocardial tissues was analyzed using Illimina transcriptome sequencing.Results:The distance and time of exhaustive exercise were longer in the LSET and HSET groups than in the control group,and the distance and time of exhaustive exercise were longer in the HSET group than in the LSET group(P<0.05).A total of 54 differentially expressed circRNAs(28 down-regulated and 26 up-regulated),7 differentially expressed lncRNAs(all down-regulated),3 differentially expressed miRNAs(1 down-regulated and 2 up-regulated)and 99 differentially expressed mRNAs(81 down-regulated and 18 up-regulated)were identified by transcriptome sequencing(P<0.05).Interaction network analysis revealed that ENSMUSG00000113041,MSTRG.79740,mmu-miR-374c-5p,18 down-regulated mRNAs and 3 up-regulated mRNAs formed a regulatory network.GO functional analysis revealed that the differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly enriched in primary metabolic processes and macromolecular synthesis and metabolic processes.KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly enriched in complement and coagulation cascade pathways,estrogen signaling pathway and glucagon signaling pathway.Conclusion:Endurance training could alter the expression profile of circRNA-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA in myocardial tissues of mice after exhaustive exercise,and these differentially expressed RNAs form a regulatory network that affects cardiomyocyte synthesis and metabolism and thus participates in the regulation of myocardial injury.

Hippocampal ultrastructural changes and apoptotic cell death in rats following endurance training and acute exhaustive exercise

BACKGROUND： Exhaustive exercise can lead to apoptosis of skeletal muscle cells and myocardial cells as a result of pathological changes in the corresponding cellular ultrastructure. It is hypothesized that such changes could also occur in neurons. OBJECTIVE： To observe brain cell apoptosis and ultrastructural changes in hippocampal neurons in rats following endurance training and acute exhaustive exercise. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, morphological analysis was performed at the Medical Laboratory Center of Zhengzhou University between July and November 2007. MATERIALS： Forty male, 8-week-old, Sprague Dawley rats were included in this study. METHODS： Endurance training consisted of treadmill running once a day, 6 days a week, for 4. weeks. For acute exhaustive exercise, graded treadmill running was conducted. Rats were exposed to exercise at an increasing speed （10 m/min, increasing to 20 and 36 m/min for moderate- and high-intensity exhaustive exercise, respectively, and then was continued until exhaustion）. A total of 40 rats were evenly distributed into the following 4. groups： Group A rats were not exercised; Group B rats were not trained but sacrificed 24 hours after acute exhaustive treadmill running exercise; Group C-rats were subjected to endurance training and sacrificed immediately after acute exhaustive treadmill running exercise; Group D rats were subjected to endurance training and sacrificed 24 hours after acute exhaustive treadmill running exercise. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Apoptotic cell death was detected by the TUNEL method and hippocampal neuronal ultrastructural change was observed through using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS： All 40 rats were included in the final analysis. Subsequent to exhaustive exercise, rat cerebral cortex and hippocampal neurons appeared contracted and degenerated. In addition, high amount of lipofuscin was visible in the hippocampal region, Necrotic neurons encased by glial cells appeared in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Glial cells exhibited different degrees of swelling. Subsequent to exhaustive exercise, brain cell apoptosis rate significantly increased, and reached over 30% in some regions, compared with group A （P 〈 0.05）. No significant difference in apoptosis rate existed between groups B, C, and D （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Endurance training and acute exhaustive exercise cause, to some degree, injuries to glial cells, resulting in apoptosis of numerous brain cells. Subsequent to exhaustive exercise, high amounts of lipofuscin appear in the hippocampus, indicating that exhaustive exercise possibly contributes to neural cell aging or dysmetabolism.

What is the most effective exercise protocol to improve cardiovascular fitness in overweight and obese subjects？

Background: Increased peak oxygen consumption(VO2 peak) can reduce cardiovascular risks associated with obesity. Our aim was to analyze the effect of a weight loss program on cardiovascular fitness in overweight(W) and obese(O) subjects.Methods: One hundred and sixty-seven subjects(77 males and 90 females), aged 18–50 years, performed a modified Bruce protocol before(pre)and after(post) a weight loss program of 24 weeks. This program combined physical training(strength, S; endurance, E; combined strength + endurance, SE; or physical activity recommendation, PA) 3 times per week, with a 25%–30% caloric restriction diet.Results: VO2 peak improved in overweight and obese males(pre and post values in L/min, respectively; W = 3.2 ± 0.6 vs. 3.7 ± 0.5, p < 0.001;O = 3.6 ± 0.6 vs. 3.8 ± 0.6, p = 0.013) as well as in overweight females(2.0 ± 0.3 vs. 2.3 ± 0.4, p < 0.001). VO2 peak in the first ventilatory threshold(VT1) increased for all 4 interventions in males(p < 0.05), except for S in the obese group(1.6 ± 0.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.3, p = 0.141). In females, it increased in E(0.9 ± 0.2 vs. 1.4 ± 0.3, p < 0.001), SE(0.9 ± 0.2 vs. 1.2 ± 0.4, p = 0.003), and PA(0.9 ± 0.1 vs. 1.2 ± 0.2, p = 0.006) in overweight groups. Time-to-exhaustion improved in all subjects except for females in PA group(15.7 ± 0.3 min vs. 15.9 ± 0.3 min, p = 0.495).Conclusion: Our results suggest that all methods, including the recommendation of physical activity, can improve cardiovascular fitness in overweight subjects and obese males.

The Road to the Beijing Winter Olympics and Beyond: Opinions and Perspectives on Physiology and Innovation in Winter Sport

Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics,and China strengthens research on various aspects to allow their athletes to compete successfully in winter sport.Simultaneously,Government-directed initiatives aim to increase public participation in recreational winter sport.These parallel developments allow research to advance knowledge and understanding of the physiological determinants of performance and health related to winter sport.Winter sport athletes often conduct a substan-tial amount of training with high volumes of low-to-moderate exercise intensity and lower volumes of high-intensity work.Moreover,much of the training occur at low ambient temperatures and winter sport athletes have high risk of developing asthma or asthma-related conditions,such as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.The high training volumes require optimal nutrition with increased energy and dietary protein requirement to stimulate muscle protein synthesis response in the post-exercise period.Whether higher protein intake is required in the cold should be investigated.Cross-country ski-ing is performed mostly in Northern hemisphere with a strong cultural heritage and sporting tradition.It is expected that innovative initiatives on recruitment and training during the next few years will target to enhance performance of Chinese athletes in classical endurance-based winter sport.The innovation potential coupled with resourcing and population may be substantial with the potential for China to become a significant winter sport nation.This paper discusses the physiological aspects of endurance training and performance in winter sport highlighting areas where innovation may advance in athletic performance in cold environments.In addition,to ensure sustainable development of snow sport,a quality ski patrol and rescue system is recommended for the safety of increasing mass participation.