Bdnf Response To Arms Versus Legs Strength Exercise

Abstract

Blood neurotrophins like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are considered to be of major importance for mediating the benefits of physical exercise on the brain by the induction of central and peripheral growth factor cascades. Increases of blood BDNF concentrations in humans have been reported after acute intensive endurance exercise, but not after acute moderate endurance exercise. Concerning strength exercise, although basal BDNF level is not altered significantly after strength training, we could suggest that acute intensive strength exercise might also increases BDNF blood concentrations. PURPOSE: For this purpose, we performed an intensive strength protocol, through an isokinetic muscle exercise and analyzed the effect of small (arms) versus large (legs) muscle mass on BDNF blood release. METHODS: Sixteen young, healthy male subjects participated in the study. Knee and elbow muscle performance were determined using a Cybex 6000 isokinetic dynamometer (Ronkonkoma, NY) in two separated days. Five series of ten repetitions during 60°/s were performed after 5 min warm up in a stationary bicycle. Successive series was separated by 40 seconds of rest. RESULTS: BDNF plasma concentrations did not alter significantly after acute intensive strength sessions. No significant differences were observed among arms and legs paradigms both at rest and after exercise. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that acute intense muscle contractions (strength exercise) are not able to altered plasma BDNF, suggesting that the type of exercise is a critical factor to provoke plasma BDNF release. Research supported by CNPq, FAPESP, CAPES, INNT and ClnAPCe (Brazil).