Fig. 1
a The experimental protocol of the study. The metabolic parameters body weight and serum glucose level after the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were determined. The animals were then allowed to rest for 1 week. At the end of the 6-week exercise or sedentary period, the body and heart weights, and the blood glucose, insulin and leptin levels after the OGTT were measured. The infarct size was determined via the Langendorff perfusion protocols and triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. At the end of the study, the heme oxygenase and constitutive nitric oxide synthase activities were measured in aorta and heart samples. b The experimental Langendorff perfusion protocols. Hearts were subjected to 45-min regional ischemia and 120-min reperfusion after a 10-min stabilization. Infarct size was measured at the end of reperfusion process, via assays with Evans blue and triphenyltatrazolium chloride staining. GK sed sedentary Goto-Kakizaki rats, GK run voluntary wheel-running Goto-Kakizaki rats