International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Physiologic Remote Ischemic Training Offers a Cardioprotective Effect against Myocardial Infarction in a Time-Dependent Manner

Jun Ni, Qingyun Peng, Chengyao Mei, Minhui Jiang, Xiao Lu, Jianan Li and Jianhua Zhu

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Physiologic remote ischemic training (PRIT) to second MI and the difference of variable durations of PRIT against myocardial infarction.

Methods: A myocardial infarction model was first established in 64 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and after one week the modeled animals were equally randomized into two groups: the PRIT group, which was further divided into1-, 2-, 4- and 6-week PRIT subgroups as 1w, 2w, 4w and 6wPRIT, and the pure myocardial infarction group, which were further divided into 1-, 2-, 4- and 6-week myocardial infarction groups as 1wMI, 2wMI, 4wMI and 6wMI as controls.. At the end of scheduled time points, all rats received the second MI. Myocardial infarct size, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), capillary density and were determined.

Results: The infarct size in PRIT groups was reduced significantly compared to control MI groups (p<0.05).VEGF protein level and capillary density of the myocardium were significantly higher in PRIT groups than those in control MI groups (p<0.05).

Conclusions: PRIT could induce a protective effect against myocardial infarction and these trends became more pronounced with the prolonging of the training time.