Poster abstracts
Poster number 24 submitted by Kelsey Pinckard
Maternal Exercise Preserves the Cardiac Health of Adult Offspring
Kelsey M Pinckard (MCDB)
Abstract:
In this study we investigated the role of maternal exercise on offspring cardiac health. To do this, 6-week-old C57BL/6 virgin female mice were fed a chow (21%) diet and divided into three subgroups: sedentary, forced exercise-trained (treadmill), and voluntary exercise-trained (wheel). Female and male offspring were sedentary, and studied at 8, 12, 24, 36, and 52 weeks of age. Remarkably, female and male offspring from both treadmill and wheel dams had preserved left-ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) compared to offspring from sedentary dams at 52 weeks of age. Additionally, female and male offspring from exercised dams had improved LV hemodynamics (diastolic and systolic function) at 52 weeks of age. To determine if maternal exercise could negate the effects of a maternal high-fat diet on offspring cardiac function, 6-week-old C57BL/6 virgin female mice were fed a chow (21%) or high-fat (60%) diet and further subdivided into sedentary (C-S, HS) or exercise-trained (wheel; CW, HW). As early as 8 weeks of age, female offspring from HS dams had reduced LV EF compared to offspring from CS dams. However, this maternal HFD-induced impairment was prevented in offspring from HW dams (throughout 24 weeks of age). To determine the mechanism behind these effects, cardiomyocytes were isolated from offspring at 8-16 weeks of age. Remarkably, female offspring from HW dams had significantly improved cardiomyocyte peak shortening, kinetics, and calcium cycling compared to offspring from HS dams. Calcium storage assays in isolated cardiomyocytes confirmed offspring from exercised dams have increased sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium storage compared to offspring from sedentary dams. Together, these data indicate maternal exercise preserves cardiac function in adult offspring throughout aging and prevents the detrimental effects of a maternal HFD through improved cardiomyocyte calcium cycling and subsequent improved sarcomere function.
Keywords: Cardiac, maternal