Adaptations in lactate dehydrogenase and its isozymes in aging mammalian myocardium: interaction of exercise and temperature.

The responses of the left and right ventricles (LV and RV) to physical conditioning in cold (25 degrees C) and thermoneutral temperatures (35 degrees C), with special reference to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzyme profile, were studied in the 2-month (young)- and 12-month (middle-aged)-old rats. Moderate hypertrophy was a common observation irrespective of age, region and swim temperature. LV, however, hypertrophied to a significantly lesser extent in the middle-aged, than the RV. Blood Lactate (La) content showed a decline in the trained rather than their untrained counterparts. LDH activity decreased with age. Swim training induced elevations in the enzyme activity. The isoenzyme profile was suitably and efficiently altered in the LV and RV of trained animals to meet the arising O2 demands. The above adaptations were best seen in the young and in the animals trained at thermoneutral temperatures. Thus it is suggested that young age is very apt for initiation of training programs although middle-age is not so late. Swimming in water near body temperature is emphasised as a more preferred environment to cold water, in order to derive maximal exercise-associated beneficial effects.