Effect of swimming on lipid metabolism, LDL oxidation resistance, and atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E knock-out mice

Fonseca TR, Botelho FV, De Lima DC, Ferraz FO, Dos Santos LAVDR, Mendes TT, Lima NRV, Alvarez-Leite JI. Effect of Swimming on Lipid Metabolism, LDL Oxidation Resistance, and Atherogenesis in Apolipoprotein E Knock-Out Mice. JEPonline 2011; 14(4):49-58. This study evaluated the effects of 6 weeks of swimming on lipid metabolism, oxidation resistance, and atherosclerosis in 6-week-old female apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (apo[E.sup.-/-]). The mice were divided into a control group (n=7) and a treatment group (n=7). Mice in the treatment group were required to swim 10 min x [d.sup.-1], 5 d x wk-1 for 6 weeks (which was increased by 10 min x [d.sup.-1] until the mice swam continuously for 1 hr). Plasma total cholesterol was evaluated before and after the experiment. Liver and fecal lipids, lipid oxidation resistance, and atherosclerotic area of thoracic and abdominal aorta were evaluated after euthanasia. Body weight, lipid metabolism, and lipid oxidation resistance were similar in both groups. Relative index was statistically decreased in the experimental group, thus suggesting that the apo[E.sup.-/-] mice that underwent the swimming exercise exhibited decreased atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta. However, the decrease was not due to changes in lipid metabolism or lipid oxidation resistance profile. Key Words: Physical Exercise, Atherosclerosis, Lipid Metabolism