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July 26, 2026Journal of Cardiothoracic SurgeryOpen Access

Aerobic exercise improves cardiac function and reduces infarct size in post-MI rats via M2 macrophage polarization.

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Why the study?

Does an 8-week aerobic training program improve cardiac recovery and modulate macrophage polarization in rats with myocardial infarction?

Population

Rat model of chronic post-infarction remodeling established by ligation of the left anterior descending…

Comparison

8-week moderate-intensity aerobic training… vs Sham group and non-exercised MI controls

Design

Preclinical

Follow-up

12 weeks after MI induction

Key result

Aerobic exercise improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size and fibrosis, and promoted macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype in rats with myocardial infarction.

Authors

MZMingyan ZhuBZBing ZhouJPJianye Peng

Discussion

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Overview

Aerobic exercise benefits in rat MI models should not change practice; leaves open translation to human post-MI care.

Key Points

  • This research aims to assess how aerobic exercise affects cardiac function, myocardial injury, and macrophage polarization after myocardial infarction in rats.
  • A rat model of myocardial infarction was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery.
  • Rats participated in an 8-week aerobic training program after a 4-week recovery period following myocardial infarction.
  • Standard histological staining and Western blotting were employed to evaluate cardiac structure and macrophage polarization.
  • Aerobic exercise significantly improved cardiac function in rats after myocardial infarction, reducing MI size and fibrosis.
  • Serum markers of cardiac injury, including cTnI, CK-MB, and LDH, decreased significantly with aerobic exercise (exact values not provided).
  • AE enhanced M2 macrophage marker expression while reducing M1 macrophage markers in myocardial tissue.

Structured PICO

Does an 8-week aerobic training program improve cardiac recovery and modulate macrophage polarization in rats with myocardial infarction?

P
Population
Rats with induced myocardial infarction subjected to an 8-week aerobic training program after a 4-week recovery period.
I
Intervention
8-week moderate-intensity aerobic training program starting after a 4-week recovery period
C
Comparator
Sham group (threading without ligation) and non-exercised MI controls
O
Outcome
Cardiac function and myocardial injurysurrogate

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise alleviates myocardial injury and adverse remodeling post-MI in rats, potentially by promoting M2 macrophage polarization.

Cite This Study

Zhu et al. (2026) studied Myocardial infarction. Aerobic exercise vs. Sham group / non-exercised MI rats was evaluated on Cardiac function, myocardial injury, and macrophage polarization. Aerobic exercise improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size and fibrosis, and promoted macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype in rats with myocardial infarction.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a65a660d3aea3239cd77bf0https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-026-04603-x
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Prior exercise training improves the outcome of acute myocardial infarction in the rat2005 · 97 citations
  2. 2Effect of Exercise Training on Myocardial and Residual Scar Electrophysiology in Post-MI Rats2026
  3. 3Prior Aerobic Exercise Training Fails to Confer Cardioprotection Under Varying Exercise Volumes in Early Post-Infarction Cardiac Remodeling in Female Rats2025
  4. 4Metabolic regulation of macrophage polarization in myocardial infarction: from mechanisms to targeted therapies2026
  5. 5Prior resistance training exerts cardioprotection against cardiac remodelling after myocardial infarction2025