Mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative stress markers in trained rats supplemented with L-arginine

• Grant number: 11/14895-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Angelina Zanesco
• Grantee: Carmem Peres Valgas da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Several studies have shown that supplementation with L-arginine (L-Arg), with or without regular physical activity is beneficial in controlling of the lipid profile and body fat mass in human and animal models, and improving physical capacity, lipid profile and expression of some markers of antioxidant defense, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). Exercise and reactive oxygen species stimulate the activation of mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. From the activation of PGC-1±, this leading to increased expression of nuclear respiratory factors (NRF-1 and NRF-2) and then to the activation of mitochondrial transcription factor A (MtTFA). Nitric oxide (NO), whose precursor is L-arginine, and aerobic exercise are directly related to the increase of coactivators of mitochondrial biogenesis. The objective of this study is to investigate whether oral supplementation with L-Arg, associated with aerobic exercise, promotes increases in some markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, improves lipid profile, decreases markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant defense and increases tolerance to exercise. For this, rats are subjected to chronic oral supplementation with L-Arg with or not a physical training program for 8 weeks. In the beginning, middle and end of treatment will be performed an exercise test with incremental speed treadmill to exhaustion andafter 48 hours of rest, the animals will be sacrificed, the gastrocnemius muscle will be removed and blood taken for assessment of plasma lipid profile, TBARS and nitrite and nitrate. The expression proteins responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis mtTFA, C subunit of ATP synthase, NOS endothelial and neuronal NOS, CuZn-SOD and MnSOD will be evaluated by western blotting of muscle gastrocnemius separated into cytoplasm and enriched fractions of mitochondria.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Carmem Peres Valgas da. Biogênese mitocondrial e marcadores de estresse oxidativo em ratos treinados e suplementados com L-Arginina. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro Rio Claro.