Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality in the world. Their most common expression is ischemic heart disease (IHD) such as myocardial infarction (MI). Physical rehabilitation is a common practice for IHD patients. Yet, there is no definition of when is the most effective time to start physical rehabilitation. However, it is recommended to start it as soon as possible. There is a growing interest in understanding the relationship between IHD and cardiomyocytes mitochondrial dynamics processes. Mitochondrial imbalance after MI accelerates cardiac damage. Peptide-based drugs are an effective and safe treatment option.
To examine rehabilitation and peptide intervention post-MI to assess optimal time to start a physical activity and mitochondrial function post-MI.
Early training as well as peptide treatment will protect the cardiac muscle post-MI from accelerated damage.
Sixty rats will be divided into 6 groups: Six groups will undergo ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) surgery, by a 30 minute occlusion of their left anterior descending artery (LAD) followed by reperfusion. Three groups will start moderate-intensity exercise training for 8 weeks at different time-points post-MI (3, 7, or 21 days). Another group will be injected with synthetic peptide 5′ pre-reperfusion. A sedentary group and a sham group will be used as controls. Results will be assessed by a mitochondrial function test, echocardiography, blood inflammatory and biochemical markers, pressure/volume loops, an exercise test and histology.
Improvement of cardiac physiology following exercise training, and mitochondrial treatment will shed light on the preferred timing of cardiac rehabilitation and the mitochondrial damage post-MI.