CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF LEFT ATRIUM IN HEALTHY WHITE EXPERIMENTAL RATS AGED 10-11 WEEKS EXERCISED WITH MODERATE INTENSITY

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the volume of the left atrium by ultrasonography after dosed, moderate-intense treadmill exercise for 10 weeks in healthy rats aged 10-11 weeks. In general, physical exercise is a well-known preventive method for reducing the risk-factors of cardiovascular diseases. Within the frame of our study, we subjected 10-11-week-old healthy male rats to moderate-intensity physical exercise on treadmill for 10 weeks and then studied functional parameters of heart by echocardiography to assess the effect of physical exercise on the volume of left atrium of healthy heart. Rats were divided into 2 groups: 1) control group, which did not receive any exercise (n=6); 2) the investigational group performed 6 complete rotations on treadmill per day with a 2-minute active break in between, 5 days a week (treadmill speed 12m/min, incline 20⁰) – n=6.The functional parameters of heart were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography twice (at the beginning of the study and after 10 weeks). In the rats of the investigational group, the volume of the left atrium was increased compared to the data of untrained rats of the same sex and age. The mentioned study can be considered as another step forward in the study of compensative changes developed amid physical exercise with moderate intensity.