Aerobic exercise reduces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and increases contractility, Ca2+ sensitivity and SERCA-2 in rat after myocardial infarction

Although it is generally accepted that endurance training improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction the sub-cellular mechanisms are uncertain. The present study reports the effects of aerobic endurance training on myocardial mass, myocyte dimensions, contractile function, Ca2+ handling, and myofilament responsiveness to Ca2+ in cardiomyocytes from healthy and failing rat hearts.