Effects of resistance training on arterial compliance and plasma endothelin-1 levels in healthy men

Physiol Res. 2018 Jun 27;67(Suppl 1):S155-S166. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.933818.

Abstract

Arterial compliance (AC) is an index of the elasticity of large arteries. Endothelial dysfunction has been reported to result in reduced arterial compliance, which represents increased arterial stiffness. A reduction in AC is elicited by high-intensity resistance training, however the mechanisms are obscure. Because a single bout of resistance exercise causes a transient increase in circulating plasma endothelin-1 in humans, some vasoconstrictors may play a role in the mechanisms. The present study aimed to investigate whether resistance training-induced decrease in AC is associated with changes in circulating vasoconstrictors levels in young men. Young sedentary men were assigned to control (n=5) or training (n=9) groups. The training group performed four-week high-intensity resistance training (weight training exercise; three sessions/week). We measured AC and plasma levels of endothelin-1, angiotensin II, and norepinephrine before and after intervention. Resistance training significantly decreased AC, whereas the changes in plasma levels of neither endothelin-1, nor angiotensin II, nor norepinephrine were significantly different between the control and the training groups. Moreover, we found no significant correlations between changes in circulating plasma levels (endothelin-1, angiotensin II, and norepinephrine) and in the AC. Despite of no alteration of the resting circulating plasma levels (endothelin-1, etc.), we cannot exclude a possibility that the tissue/local concentrations of vasoconstrictors (endothelin-1, etc.) around the vessels might be increased and also involved in a reduction of AC in the training group. Taken together, the present results suggest that circulating vasoconstrictors (endothelin-1, etc.) in plasma are not involved in a reduction in AC by the resistance training.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Endothelin-1 / blood*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Resistance Training / methods
  • Resistance Training / trends*
  • Vascular Stiffness / physiology*
  • Vasoconstriction / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Endothelin-1