EXERCISE‐INDUCED PLASTICITY IN THE RAT HIPPOCAMPUS, MOTOR CORTEX AND BRAIN STEM

Abstract

Increasing evidence shows that physical exercise is neuroprotective and enhances brain function by improving memory, cognitive functions, neuroplasticity, and learning. The aim of this study was to observe the plastic effects physical exercise has on regions of the CNS related to cognitive and motor functions by evaluating the expression of structural proteins. A group of 40 adult male Wistar rats were subjected to an exercise protocol on an adapted treadmill. Following a 2 day adaptation period, the exercised group ran for 40 min/day, at 0.6km/h for 3 (3D), 7 (7D) or 15 (15D) days. At the end of the exercise protocol, brains were subjected to immunoblotting analysis to evaluate the expression of neurofilaments (NF) in the hippocampus, motor cortex and brain stem. In the hippocampus, immunoblot analysis showed increased expression of NF68 (p<0.005) following 3D exercise. In the motor cortex, however, the levels of both NF68 and NF160 decreased (p<0.05) after 3D exercised and increased at 15D for NF68 (p<0.05). The brain stem showed increased expression of all NFs at 15D (p<0.05). These results suggest that physical exercise alters the expression of structural neuronal proteins in brain regions associated with motor control, cognition, memory and learning. Our current ongoing studies focuses on the functional role astrocytes have on exercise‐induced structural neuronal changes.Support: FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES