Acute resistance exercise reduces blood pressure and vascular reactivity, and increases endothelium-dependent relaxation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of acute dynamic resistance exercise on resting blood pressure (BP) and on endothelial function of vascular bed of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hemodynamic measurements were performed before and after acute dynamic resistance exercise in conscious animals. After exercise, the tail artery was cannulated for mean perfusion pressure with constant flow measurement and for performing concentration–response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and dose–response curves to phenylephrine (PHE). PHE protocol was also repeated with damaged endothelium and after L-NAME and indomethacin perfusion on the tail. The maximal response (E _max) and sensitivity (pD₂) were evaluated to these drugs. Exercise reduced resting systolic and diastolic BP (Δ −79 ± 1.8; −23 ± 2.3 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05). ACh-induced relaxation increased in the exercise group (pD₂ = 9.8 ± 0.06, P < 0.05) when compared with control rats (pD₂ = 8.7 ± 0.1). The E _max to PHE with intact endothelium decreased following exercise condition (439 ± 18 mmHg, P < 0.05) when compared with control rats (276 ± 22 mmHg). This response was abolished after L-NAME and indomethacin administration. After damage of the endothelium, PHE responses were not significantly different between the groups; however, E _max and pD₂ increased when compared with responses obtained with intact endothelium. The results demonstrated that acute dynamic resistance exercise decreased resting BP and reactivity to PHE and increased endothelium-dependent relaxation. Nitric oxide and vasodilators prostanoids appear to be involved in post-exercise endothelial and pressor responses.