Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hypertens Res. 2022 Jul;45(7):1154-1167. doi: 10.1038/s41440-022-00916-1. Epub 2022 Apr 22.
Autonomic dysfunction and sleep problems are closely associated with hypertension and predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Animal studies and clinical observations have identified exercise as an important factor in preventing and treating hypertension. However, the roles of autonomic function and sleep in the antihypertensive mechanisms of exercise are still not fully understood. This study aimed to clarify the physiological mechanisms associated with autonomic function and sleep through wheel exercise. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were grouped into a wheel-exercised group and a sedentary group (controls). Electroencephalogram, electromyogram, electrocardiogram, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded simultaneously for 24 h once a week over 11 weeks. Wheel exercise was initiated in the SHRs at 12 weeks old and continued for another eight weeks. A significant suppression in the age-related elevation of MAP was noted in the SHRs undergoing wheel exercise. The reduction in MAP was correlated with increased parasympathetic activity and baroreflex sensitivity and decreased sympathetic activity, mainly during quiet sleep. Exercise increased the paradoxical sleep time and theta power (associated with cognitive function) but not the delta power (an indicator of sleep depth) or the attenuation of circadian rhythm flattening (characterized by increased wakefulness and less sleep during the light period and the opposite during the dark period). Furthermore, the exercise-induced changes in autonomic function occurred before those in sleep patterns, which were dependent on each other. In conclusion, wheel exercise can modulate sleep-related cardiovascular dysfunction and the flattening of circadian rhythm, preventing the progression of hypertension, which reduces the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.
自主神经功能障碍和睡眠问题与高血压密切相关，并可预测心血管发病率和死亡率。动物研究和临床观察已经确定运动是预防和治疗高血压的重要因素。然而，自主功能和睡眠在运动降压机制中的作用仍不完全清楚。本研究旨在通过轮式运动阐明与自主功能和睡眠相关的生理机制。雄性自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）分为轮式运动组和久坐组（对照组）。每周记录一次 24 小时的脑电图、肌电图、心电图和平均动脉压（MAP），共 11 周。12 周龄时开始对 SHR 进行轮式运动，持续 8 周。在进行轮式运动的 SHR 中，MAP 随年龄的升高得到显著抑制。MAP 的降低与副交感神经活性和压力反射敏感性的增加以及交感神经活性的降低有关，主要发生在安静睡眠期间。运动增加了异相睡眠时间和θ功率（与认知功能相关），但不增加δ功率（睡眠深度的指标）或昼夜节律平坦化的衰减（表现为清醒增加，光期睡眠减少，暗期睡眠相反）。此外，运动引起的自主功能变化先于睡眠模式的变化，两者相互依赖。总之，轮式运动可以调节与睡眠相关的心血管功能障碍和昼夜节律平坦化，预防高血压的进展，从而降低心血管疾病的发病率。
