The Effect of Running Training on Regional Cardiac Myosin Isozyme Composition in Rats

We examined the effect of running training on regional cardiac myosin isozyme composition in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley strain rats (4 weeks old) were used, and divided into two groups: sedentary control (C) and trained (T) groups. The T group was trained by treadmill running (40 m/min, 1h/day, 5 days/week, for 12 weeks) . At 16 weeks old, their hearts were excised. The left ventricle was separated into the subendocardium (Endo) and subepicardium (Epi) by dissecting the ventricle at the mid-wall. The ventricular myosin isozymes were examined by electrophoresis on pyrophosphate gel under non-dissociating conditions. The results showed the following: 1) The relative heart weight of the T group was significantly higher than the C group. 2) Left ventricular myosin isozyme composition showed a region-specific distribution in the C rats, and the proportion of V3 myosin or β-myosin heavy chain in the Endo was significantly higher than that of the Epi. However, the training had no effect on the cardiac myosin isozyme in either portion. 3) The activity of citrate synthase did not show transmural gradient in the ventricle of C animals. Training had no effect on the activities of either portion. 4) The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed transmural gradient in the ventricle of C rats. Training-induced changes in the activity of LDH were found in both portions, therefore, training abolished the transmural gradient in the activity of LDH, suggesting a corresponding redistribution of the myocardial work load.These results indicate that running training might induce the redistribution of the myocardial work load, whereas the stimulation apparently has no effect on the regional distribution of cardiac myosin isozyme composition.