Physical training attenuates right ventricular dysfunction in rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the functional and morphological cardiac variables of rats exposed to chronic cigarette smoke (ECS) and to analyze the influence of exercise training on any cardiac remodeling. Methods: Male Wistar rats were assigned into four groups: control animals (C, n=10); control trained rats (CT, n=10), that underwent swimming physical training; ECS rats (E, n=10), that received the smoke of 40 cigarettes/day; and ECS plus trained rats (TE, n=10), that received the cigarette smoke plus the swimming training protocol, for 15 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the animals underwent hemodynamic measurements of the right ventricle (RV) and morphological examination. Results: There was a decrease in the body weight of E, TE and CT groups (p<0.05). RV pressure (maximum systolic, diastolic initial and end-diastolic) was increased in the E and ET groups (p <0.05), while there was a decrease in RV maximum derivative pressure, RV minimum derivative pressure (+dP/dt and -dP/dt) and systolic duration in the TE group (p <0.05). Heart rate increased in the E group (p<0.05). The lung weight/body weight ratio was higher in the TE group (p=0.008). Fluid retention was increased in the RV, left ventricle (LV) and lung of the E group (p<0.001). Conclusion: ECS caused right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension and cardiac remodeling. Physical training attenuated the effects of ECS for heart rate responses and the morphological variables of the RV, LV, and the lung.