Protective effect of regular aerobic training on inflammatory and toxicity markers of lung tissue in L-NAME-induced hypertension

Hypertension is a multi-factorial, life-threatening disease. The present study was designed to investigate protective effect of aerobic regular training on inflammatory and toxicity markers in lung tissue of male wistar rats exposed to chronic nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester(L-NAME)-induced hypertension. Thirty two adult male Wistar rats are randomly classified into 4 groups; aerobic training, L-NAME, saline and control groups. Hypertension was induced by administration of L-NAME (10 mg/kg) for 8 weeks and 6 sessions a week. Aerobic training was performed between 25 to 64 minutes and the speed 15 to 22 m/min for 8 weeks and 5 sessions a week. Chronically administration of L-NAME cause a significant increase in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, and a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, as compared to saline and control groups. In contrast, aerobic training for 8 weeks caused a significant increase in SOD, NO and a significant decrease in IL-6 and protein carbonyl (PC), as compared to L-NAME and saline groups. Our study suggests aerobic regular exercise provided significant protection against L-NAME-induced toxicity in lung tissue by up-regulation of antioxidant systems and down-regulation of the inflammatory and vasoconstrictor factors in hypertensive rats. These results suggest that aerobic regular exercise may be considered as a potentially useful strategy to limit toxicity in lung tissue.