Characterizing the Effects of Voluntary Wheel Running on Cardiac SERCA Function in Ovariectomized Mice

The sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) actively transports Ca2+ into the sarcoplasmic reticulum to facilitate cardiac muscle relaxation. Phospholamban (PLN) allosterically inhibits SERCA, and an imbalance of SERCA2a, dominant cardiac isoform, and PLN content disrupts Ca2+ homeostasis and cardiac contractility. A previous study has shown that ovariectomized (OVX) rats have reduced SERCA activity due to lowered SERCA2a and increased PLN content. Furthermore, it was found that forced treadmill running in OVX rats restored SERCA activity and protein content levels. Here, we investigated whether voluntary wheel running (VWR) would produce similar effects on cardiac SERCA function in OVX mice. Female mice were divided into the following groups for 8 weeks: SHAM; OVX; SHAM + VWR; and OVX + VWR (n = 10/group). SERCA activity and Ca2+ uptake assays were performed in cardiac muscle homogenates. Protein levels of SERCA2, PLN, and pPLN were determined via Western blot analysis. We found statistical interactions for Ca2+ uptake, maximal SERCA activity, and SERCA2a content where VWR increased these parameters in SHAM mice but not in OVX mice. We detected a main effect of OVX on PLN content, and main effects of OVX and VWR on pPLN content. The OVX mice ran significantly less than the SHAM mice, suggesting that estrogen deprivation and lack of regular exercise may blunt the effects of voluntary aerobic exercise on cardiac SERCA function.