Training-induced, pressure-lowering effect in SHR: wide effects on circulatory profile of exercised and nonexercised muscles.

We showed that the training-induced, pressure-lowering effect correlates with decreased arteriole wall/lumen ratio and venule growth in the gracilis muscle. To investigate whether these beneficial changes are tissue-specific or occur in other muscles and tissues, we analyzed the effects of hypertension and training on microcirculatory profile of locomotor/nonlocomotor muscles and another nonmuscular tissue. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats were submitted to low-intensity training (50% to 60% maximal exercise capacity, 13 weeks); age-matched control rats were kept sedentary.