Concurrent exercise training potentiates the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on regulatory systems of blood pressure control in ovariectomized hypertensive rats

Objective: Enalapril has shown satisfactory potential in controlling increased and sustained blood pressure (BP). However, multiple dysregulated mechanisms that interact with each other and are involved in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension may not be affected, contributing to the remaining cardiovascular risk. Using an exercise training protocol, we investigated whether adding both approaches to arterial hypertension management could promote higher modulation of regulatory mechanisms of BP in postmenopausal rats. Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats were allocated into sedentary (S) and ovariectomized groups: sedentary (OS), sedentary treated with enalapril maleate (OSE) and trained treated with enalapril maleate (OTE). Both the pharmacological and exercise training protocols lasted for 8 weeks. The BP was directly recorded. Inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated in the cardiac tissue. Results: Although BP reduction was similar between OSE and OTE, trained group showed lower vasopressor systems outflow after sympathetic ganglion blocking by hexamethonium (mean BP) (OTE: -53.7 +/- 9.86 vs. OS: -75.7 +/- 19.2 mmHg). Bradycardic and tachycardic response were increased in OTE group (-1.4 +/- 0.4 and -2.6 +/- 0.4 vs. OS: -0.6 +/- 0.3 and -1.3 +/- 0.4 bpm/mmHg, respectively), as well as BP variability. In addition, the combination of approaches induced an increase in interleukin 10, antioxidant defense (catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and nitrite levels compared with the OS group. Conclusion: Despite similar BP, the inclusion of exercise training in antihypertensive drug treatment exacerbates the positive adaptations induced by enalapril alone on autonomic, inflammatory and oxidative stress profiles, probably affecting end-organ damage and remaining risk.