Voluntary exercise and testosterone therapy caused increase in percentage of Myh6 and expression of oxidative stress marker Cybb in left ventricles of rats

Aim: The aim of this study is to identify a possible damage to heart ventricles caused by supraphysiological doses of testosterone, voluntary physical activity or their combination.

Methods: In the 8-week long experiment, 10-12 weeks old male Wistar rats were administered testosterone depot in dose of 100 mg/kg (TES, n = 15) or vehiculum (CON, n = 12) once a week subcutaneously. Next groups injected with testosterone (SPOTES, n = 12) or vehiculum (SPO, n = 12) were running in exercise wheels ad libitum. Gene expressions in left and right ventricles of the heart were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method.

Results:ln left ventricles of the testosterone groups, we observed a mild but significant increase in the percentage of Myh6 myosin heavy chain isoform and higher expression of NADPH oxidase subunit Cybb (*p < 0.05).

Conclusions:Testosterone affected the expression of genes related to contractile apparatus and oxidative stress in the left ventricle but not in right ventricle of the heart of rats. The observed level of physical activity did not have a compelling effect on the expression of measured genes.