Animal models and mechanisms of exercise in attenuating cardiac injury induced by beta-adrenergic hyperactivation

Acute sympathetic stress, which causes hyperactivation of β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) in the heart, is a key pathological factor in the development of cardiac disease. Isoproterenol (ISO) is a non-selective β-AR agonist, which was utilized to develop an experimental animal model of pathological cardiac remodeling, simulating the acute sympathetic stress-induced cardiac injury. Current research evidences support the potential role of exercise in preventing or treating heart injury caused by β-adrenergic overactivation. The mechanisms of exercise against ISO-induced cardiac injury include of inhibiting cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress, suppressing apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis in cardiomyocytes, activating Adenosine 5′ -monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to regulate the inflammatory response. Despite the protective effects of exercise in attenuating ISO-induced cardiac injury, further studies are necessary to explore the optimal combination of exercise intensity and duration. Additionally, comparative research is required to evaluate the protective effects of different exercise types, investigate the relationship between exercise-induced protection and ISO dosage, and reveal new mechanism underlying the protective effects of exercise against ISO-induced heart injury. This study will improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which exercise protects against cardiac injury induced by β-adrenergic overload, and establish a stronger foundation for studying the effects of exercise against β-adrenergic overload-induced cardiac injury.