Red wine and equivalent oral pharmacological doses of resveratrol delay vascular aging but do not extend life span in rats

Atherosclerosis. 2012 Sep;224(1):136-42. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.06.007. Epub 2012 Jun 26.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate, in male Wistar rats, the effects of long-term moderate red wine (RW) consumption (equivalent to ∼0.15 mg% resveratrol RS), or RS in low (L, 0.15 mg%) or high (H, 400 mg%) doses in chow.

Background: Both RW and RS exhibit cardioprotection. RS extends lifespan in obese rats. It is unclear whether RW consumption or low-dose RS delay vascular aging and prolong life span in the absence of overt risk factors.

Methods: Endpoints were aerobic performance, exercise capacity, aging biomarkers (p53,p16,p21, telomere length and telomerase activity in aortic homogenates), vascular reactivity. Data were compared with controls (C) given regular chow.

Results: Expressions of p53 decreased ∼50% ∼with RW and LRS (p < 0.05 vs. C), p16 by ∼29% with RW (p < 0.05 vs. C) and p21 was unaltered. RW and LRS increased telomere length >6.5-fold vs. C, and telomerase activity increased with LRS and HRS. All treatments increased aerobic capacity (C 32.5 ± 1.2, RW 38.7 ± 1.7, LRS 38.5 ± 1.6, HRS 38.3 ± 1.8 mlO(2) min(-1) kg(-1)), and RW or LRS also improved time of exercise tolerance vs. C (p < 0.05). Endothelium-dependent relaxation improved with all treatments vs. C. Life span, however, was unaltered with each treatment vs. C = 673 ± 30 days, p = NS.

Conclusions: RW and LRS can preserve vascular function indexes in normal rats, although not extending life span. These effects were translated into better aerobic performance and exercise capacity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Blood Vessels / physiology
  • Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors / metabolism
  • Exercise Test
  • Longevity / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Resveratrol
  • Stilbenes / administration & dosage*
  • Telomere / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • Wine

Substances

  • Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors
  • Stilbenes
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Resveratrol