Swimming Improves Memory and Antioxidant Defense in an Animal Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Letícia Ventura,Rudy José Nodari Júnior,Adriano Alberti,Daniel Fernandes Martins,Priscila Mantovani Nocetti,Clarissa M Comim,Cristina Salar Andreau,Viviane Freiberger,Leoberto Ricardo Grigollo

doi:10.1007/s12035-021-02482-y

Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease associated with progressive skeletal muscle degeneration. In humans, DMD has an early onset, causes developmental delays, and is a devastating disease that drastically diminishes the quality of life of young individuals affected. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a swimming protocol on memory and oxidative stress in an animal model of DMD. Male mdx and wild-type mice aged ≥ 28days were used in this study. The animals were trained for a stepped swimming protocol for four consecutive weeks. The swimming protocol significantly reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation in the gastrocnemius, hippocampus, and striatum in the exercised animals. It also prevented lipid peroxidation in the diaphragm. Moreover, it increased the free thiol levels in the gastrocnemius, the diaphragm, and all central nervous system structures. The results showed that the protocol that applied swimming as a low-intensity aerobic exercise for 4weeks prevented aversive memory and habituation in mdx mice.

Highlights

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a well-described clinical disease; it is a condition caused by an amendment to the X chromosome, inherited as a recessive trait, and mainly affects males [1, 2]
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a swimming protocol on memory and oxidative stress in an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Swimming has prevented lipid peroxidation in diaphragm. This swimming protocol was able to increase free thiols in gastrocnemius, diaphragm and in all central nervous system structures. These results showed that a protocol of swimming as an aerobic exercise of low intensity, for four weeks, prevented aversive memory and habituation in mdx mice

Summary

Introduction

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a well-described clinical disease; it is a condition caused by an amendment to the X chromosome, inherited as a recessive trait, and mainly affects males [1, 2]. Affected animals such as mdx mice have the same mutation as that in humans. Physical exercises are used to treat DMD [6, 7]. Studies have been using physical exercises in individuals with DMD to decrease muscle deterioration, muscular contraction, and bone fractures and increase the duration of functional independence [8]. Low-intensity exercise is known to decrease certain parameters associated with muscular degeneration in animal models of progressive muscular dystrophies [2]

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