LAUSR

ABSTRACT We investigated the effects of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and aerobic physical training on the heart of old female rats (82‐wk‐old) submitted to premature ovarian failure (10‐wk.‐old). We used different approaches: morphology and function by echocardiography, reactivity of the coronary bed and left ventricular contractibility (Langendorff Technique). Female Wistar ovariectomized (OVX) rats (n = 42) were assigned to one of four groups: OVX, vehicle treated only; OVX‐EM, Enalapril Maleate only (EM, 10 mg·kg− 1·d− 1); OVX‐T, aerobic trained only; and OVX‐EMT, treated with Enalapril Maleate and aerobic trained. Both Enalapril Maleate treatment and aerobic training were done in the last 20 weeks of the experimental protocol. When compared to the OVX group, the OVX‐EM group showed lower values of wall thickness and left ventricular (LV) mass, lower values of coronary bed reactivity and reduced maximum response of LV contractility to dobutamine, while the OVX‐T group showed lower values of LV wall thickness, increase in end‐systolic volume, reduced maximum response of LV contractility to dobutamine, and left intraventricular pressure due to increased flow. The combination of treatments (EM and aerobic physical training) did not promote additional important effects on the parameters evaluated. Our results suggest similar beneficial effects of physical training and EM treatment on the morphology and cardiac function in old female rats submitted to premature ovarian failure. Although the causes of these benefits are still unknown, both treatments have promoted a decrease in cardiac contractility, and the reduced &bgr;1‐adrenergic sensitivity suggests that both treatments may attenuate the sympathetic effect on the heart. HighlightsEarly ovarian failure can lead to significant cardiac damage.Enalapril Maleate and physical training promoted beneficial morphofunctional cardiac effects.Both treatments also reduced cardiac &bgr;‐adrenergic reactivity to dobutamine.The combination of treatments did not potentiate the beneficial effects.