Reduction of blood pressure and restoration of T-cell immune function in spontaneously hypertensive rats by food restriction and/or by treadmill exercise.

The studies were carried out to compare the effects of food restriction and/or treadmill exercise on the development of high blood pressure and to compare immune function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The results demonstrate that moderate food restriction from weaning or a regular treadmill exercise not only maintains significantly lower blood pressure, but also increases T-cell proliferative response against mitogens which is found to be significantly depressed in SHR fed ad libitum. A significant loss of T-cell subpopulation such as W3/25+ T helper cells and OX8+ non-helper T-cells occurring in mice fed ad libitum were restored to normal levels, including IL-2 response, in food-restricted SHR. Our results suggest that both food restriction and/or physical exercise is effective in modulating the blood pressure and increasing T-cell immune functions in SHR.