High-intensity interval training improves cardiomyocyte contractile function and myofilament sensitivity to intracellular Ca2+ in obese rats

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has shown significant results in addressing adiposity and risk factors associated with obesity. However, there are no studies that investigate the effects of HIIT on contractility and intracellular Ca²⁺ handling. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of HIIT on cardiomyocyte contractile function and intracellular Ca²⁺ handling in rats in which obesity was induced by a saturated high-fat diet (HFD). Male Wistar rats were initially randomized into a standard diet and a HFD group. The experimental protocol spanned 23 weeks, comprising the induction and maintenance of obesity (15 weeks) followed by HIIT treatment (8 weeks). Performance was assessed using the maximum oxygen consumption test (${\dot{V}}_{O_2\max }$). Evaluation encompassed cardiac, adipose and skeletal muscle histology, as well as contractility and intracellular Ca²⁺ handling. HIIT resulted in a reduction in visceral area, an increase in ${\dot{V}}_{O_2\max }$, and an augmentation of gastrocnemius fibre diameter in obese subjects. Additionally, HIIT led to a decrease in collagen fraction, an increase in percentage shortening, and a reduction in systolic Ca²⁺/percentage shortening and systolic Ca²⁺/maximum shortening rates. HIIT induces physiological cardiac remodelling, enhancing the contractile function of cardiomyocytes and improving myofilament sensitivity to Ca²⁺ in the context of obesity. This approach not only enhances cardiorespiratory and physical performance but also reduces visceral area and prevents interstitial fibrosis.