Effect of exercise training and carvedilol treatment on cardiac function and structure in mice with sympathetic hyperactivity-induced heart failure

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of beta-blockers and exercise training on cardiac structure and function, respectively, as well as overall functional capacity in a genetic model of sympathetic hyperactivity-induced heart failure in mice (alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)ArKO). alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)ArKO and their wild-type controls were studied for 2 months, from 3 to 5 months of age. Mice were randomly assigned to control (N = 45), carvedilol-treated (N = 29) or exercise-trained (N = 33) groups. Eight weeks of carvedilol treatment (38 mg/kg per day by gavage) or exercise training (swimming sessions of 60 min, 5 days/week) were performed. Exercise capacity was estimated using a graded treadmill protocol and HR was measured by tail cuff. Fractional shortening was evaluated by echocardiography. Cardiac structure and gastrocnemius capillary density were evaluated by light microscopy. At 3 months of age, no significant difference in fractional shortening or exercise capacity was observed between wild-type and alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)ArKO mice. At 5 months of age, all alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)ArKO mice displayed exercise intolerance and baseline tachycardia associated with reduced fractional shortening and gastrocnemius capillary rarefaction. In addition, alpha(2A)/ alpha(2C)ArKO mice presented cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and ventricular fibrosis. Exercise training and carvedilol similarly improved fractional shortening in alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)ArKO mice. The effect of exercise training was mainly associated with improved exercise tolerance and increased gastrocnemius capillary density while beta-blocker therapy reduced cardiac myocyte dimension and ventricular collagen to wild-type control levels. Taken together, these data provide direct evidence for the respective beneficial effects of exercise training and carvedilol in alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)ArKO mice preventing cardiac dysfunction. The different mechanisms associated with beneficial effects of exercise training and carvedilol suggest future studies associating both therapies.