Structural, Contractile and Electrophysiological Adaptations of Cardiomyocytes to Chronic Exercise

Abstract

Cardiac beneficial effects of chronic exercise is well admitted. These effects mainly studied at the organ and organism integrated levels find their origin in cardiomyocyte adaptation. This chapter try to highlight the main trends of the data related to the different parameters subject to such adaptations. This is addressed through cardiomyocytes size and structure, calcium and contractile properties, and finally electrophysiological alterations induced by training as they transpire from the literature. Despite the clarifications needed to decipher healthy cardiomyocyte remodeling, this overview clearly show that cardiac cell plasticity ensure the cardiac adaptation to exercise training and offers an interesting mean of action to counteract physiological disturbances induced by cardiac pathologies.

Keywords: Cardiomyocytes; Contractile; Electrophysiological adaptation; Exercise; Structure.