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July 26, 2026Journal of Cardiothoracic SurgeryOpen Access

Aerobic exercise improves cardiac function and reduces infarct size in post-MI rats via M2 macrophage polarization.

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Why the study?

To evaluate the protective effects of aerobic exercise on cardiac function and myocardial injury in rats with myocardial infarction, as well as its impact on macrophage polarization.

Does an 8-week aerobic training program improve cardiac recovery and modulate macrophage polarization in rats with myocardial infarction?

Population

Rats with myocardial infarction induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation

Comparison

8-week aerobic training program vs Sham group

Design

Preclinical animal study

Follow-up

Approximately 12 weeks after MI induction

Key result

Aerobic exercise improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size and fibrosis, and promoted macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype in rats with myocardial infarction.

Authors

MZMingyan ZhuBZBing ZhouJPJianye Peng

Discussion

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Member takes

Overview

Aerobic exercise benefits in rat MI models should not change practice; leaves open translation to human post-MI care.

Key Points

  • This research aims to assess how aerobic exercise affects cardiac function, myocardial injury, and macrophage polarization after myocardial infarction in rats.
  • A rat model of myocardial infarction was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery.
  • Rats participated in an 8-week aerobic training program after a 4-week recovery period following myocardial infarction.
  • Standard histological staining and Western blotting were employed to evaluate cardiac structure and macrophage polarization.
  • Aerobic exercise significantly improved cardiac function in rats after myocardial infarction, reducing MI size and fibrosis.
  • Serum markers of cardiac injury, including cTnI, CK-MB, and LDH, decreased significantly with aerobic exercise (exact values not provided).
  • AE enhanced M2 macrophage marker expression while reducing M1 macrophage markers in myocardial tissue.

Structured PICO

Does an 8-week aerobic training program improve cardiac recovery and modulate macrophage polarization in rats with myocardial infarction?

P
Population
Rats with induced myocardial infarction subjected to an 8-week aerobic training program after a 4-week recovery period.
I
Intervention
8-week moderate-intensity aerobic training program starting after a 4-week recovery period
C
Comparator
Sham group (threading without ligation) and non-exercised MI controls
O
Outcome
Cardiac function and myocardial injurysurrogate

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise alleviates myocardial injury and adverse remodeling post-MI in rats, potentially by promoting M2 macrophage polarization.

Cite This Study

Zhu et al. (2026) studied Myocardial infarction. Aerobic exercise vs. Sham group / non-exercised MI rats was evaluated on Cardiac function, myocardial injury, and macrophage polarization. Aerobic exercise improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size and fibrosis, and promoted macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype in rats with myocardial infarction.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a65a660d3aea3239cd77bf0https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-026-04603-x
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on cardiac remodelling and skeletal muscle oxidative stress of infarcted rats2020 · 46 citations
  2. 2Influence of Isolated Resistance Exercise on Cardiac Remodeling, Myocardial Oxidative Stress, and Metabolism in Infarcted Rats2023 · 8 citations
  3. 3Exercise training prior to myocardial infarction attenuates cardiac deterioration and cardiomyocyte dysfunction in rats2013 · 32 citations
  4. 4Aerobic exercise can ameliorate heart function in patients with myocardial infarction through up-regulating M3 receptor2016 · 6 citations
  5. 5Aerobic exercise improves ventricular remodeling by promoting macrophages to phagocytose dying cardiomyocytes in heart failure model2024