ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 20 (UPI) -- A University of Michigan study says rats bred for low aerobic exercise capacity had more cardiovascular disease risk factors than rats bred for high exercise capacity.
The study, to be published in the Jan. 21 issue of Science, also included scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Medical College of Ohio, and Williams College.
"We found that rats with low aerobic capacity scored higher on risk factors linked to cardiovascular disease - including high blood pressure and vascular dysfunction," said Dr. Ulrik Wisloff.
"Rats with low aerobic capacity also had higher levels of blood fat disorders, insulin-resistance and more abdominal fat than high-capacity rats - all consistent with metabolic syndrome," said Sonia M. Najjar, the study's co-author.
After 11 generations of selective breeding, the low-capacity rats had abnormally low levels of proteins required to maintain adequate production of an energy storing molecule ATP.
The high-capacity rats, on the other hand, had accumulated genes that code for increased production of mitochondrial proteins and ATP.
