Eccentric overload muscle damage is attenuated by a novel angiotensin- (1-7) treatment.

Abstract

The development of new strategies to attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage may be helpful for training regimens. The aim of this study was to determine whether a oral formulation of angiotensin Ang-(1-7)[HPβCD/Ang-(1-7)] is effective to reduce pain, and muscle damage markers after eccentric-overload exercise. HPβCD (Placebo) and HPβCD/Ang-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7) group were treated for 7 days (one capsule/day). The pain was measured by visual analogue scale, maximal strength (MS) using force platform. Blood samples were collected for cytokines and creatine kinase (CK) analysis. The Ang-(1-7)-treated group reported less pain immediately (3.46± 0.64 vs. placebo 3.80± 0.77 cm) and 24h after exercise (3.07±0.71 vs. 3.73±0.58cm placebo) and higher MS at 24h (24±12N) and 48h (30±15N) vs. placebo (-8 ± 9 N and -10 ± 9 N). The CK for Ang-(1-7) (0.5 ± 0.1 and 0.9±0.2 U/L) were lower at 48 and 72h vs. placebo (fold changes of 1.7±0.5 and 1.5±0.3 U/L). The TNF-α level was lower in the treated group post-exercise (38 ± 2.5 pg/ml) vs. placebo (45 ± 2.9 pg/ml) but no significant changes were observed for IL-6 and IL-10. Our data indicate that treatment with Ang-(1-7) may attenuate pain, some of the muscle damage markers and improves performance following eccentric exercise.