Voluntary Exercise Group Research Articles

Social jetlag alters markers of exercise-induced mitochondrial adaptations in the heart

Social jetlag (SJL) represents the behavioral misalignment of sleep and wake times on work days and free days, and potently disrupts the circadian rhythm. SJL affects up to 70% of the population worldwide and is associated with increased risk for many cardiometabolic diseases. Animal models of acute SJL have shown disruption in locomotor activity and expression of clock genes in select tissues, its impact on the heart remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged SJL (6 weeks), on activity rhythms, and the impact on exercise-induced adaptations in the heart. Male mice (n = 40, C57BL6) were assigned to a control light:dark (LD) cycle or SJL schedule (4-hour shift on weekends) for 6 weeks. Mice in each condition were further divided into voluntary exercise (EX) or sedentary (SED) groups. SJL resulted in significant shifts in the onset of physical activity in both sedentary (SJL-SED) and exercised (SJL-EX) mice on weekends, and exercise accelerated the speed of re-entrainment to the weekday schedule. Exercise induced myocardial hypertrophy in both CON-EX and SJL-EX groups. While there were no changes in mitochondrial content, SJL decreased expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins MFN1 and OPA1, and inhibited exercise-induced increases in MFN2. Taken together, these findings suggest that exercise hastens re-entrainment to the weekday schedule under SJL, but that SJL disrupts exercise-induced alterations to mitochondrial fusion/fission dynamics in the heart. Further investigation of cardiovascular function is warranted and will enable the development of strategies to prevent the effects of SJL on the heart.

Comparing the effect of high-intensity interval exercise and voluntary exercise training on cognitive functions in rats

It is known that exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory, resulting in improved cognitive functions and learning processes. However, it is claimed that different types of exercise cause different responses in the brain. It is thought that lactate and osteocalcin secreted in response to exercise are associated with an increase in BDNF levels. However, there are not enough studies on this subject. This study aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and voluntary exercise training on cognitive performance and molecular connections. Male rats were randomly divided into control, voluntary exercise training and HIIT groups. The voluntary exercise group had free access to the voluntary wheel for 8 weeks. The HIIT group performed HIIT on the treadmill 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The rats underwent open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests 24 h after the last exercise training. Then, after blood was drawn under anesthesia, the rats were sacrificed and their hippocampus tissues were separated. Glucocorticoid and BDNF levels in the blood were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and osteocalcin and BDNF expressions in the hippocampus were evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Neither voluntary exercise training nor HIIT had any significant effect on behavioral parameters assessed by OF, EPM and MWM tests. However, BDNF expression in hippocampus tissue was higher in the HIIT group than in the control group. In addition, osteocalcin expression in hippocampus tissue was higher in the HIIT and voluntary exercise groups than in the control group. In conclusion, according to the findings we obtained from this study, although it does not have a significant effect on cognitive functions, the effect of HIIT on brain functions seems to be more effective than voluntary exercise.

Effects of voluntary, involuntary exercise and sertraline on anxiety, social and cognitive behavior in female rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is considered as a complex syndrome comprising extremely severe anxiety levels, social-interpersonal dysfunction, and cognitive impairment that may be based on severe traumatic events. Although PTSD is more prevalent in females than in males, most preclinical studies have been carried out in males. The present study investigated the effects of voluntary and involuntary exercise, as well as sertraline on behavioral deficits in a female nonhuman animal model of PTSD using the single-prolonged stress (SPS) paradigm. Female adult rats were exposed to SPS protocol (2-hour restrain, 20-minute forced swimming, 15-minute rest, and 2–3 minute diethyl ether exposure) and were then kept undisturbed. Following a 7-day undisturbed period, animals were subjected to a 10 min restraint (re-stress). SPS rats were treated with voluntary wheel running or moderate treadmill exercise (5 days/week) and/or the administration of sertraline (10 mg/kg/day) for four consecutive weeks. Behavioral assessments were conducted using the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) test for anxiety, the Three-Chamber Social Test (3-CST) for social interaction, and the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test for spatial memory. Involuntary exercise combined with sertraline significantly increased time spent in the open arms of the EPM test (P < 0.001), and interaction with new rats in 3-CST (P < 0.001) compared to SPS rats. The voluntary exercise plus sertraline group showed a significant increase in entries into the training platform during the probe phase of the MWM test (P < 0.001) compared to SPS rats. Overall, sertraline combined with involuntary exercise was more effective than voluntary exercise plus sertraline in enhancing social interaction and reducing anxiety in the SPS model of PTSD. Conversely, voluntary exercise combined with sertraline provided greater benefits for spatial memory enhancement in female rats.

The effects of voluntary exercise on histological and stereological changes of sciatic nerve, nitric oxide levels, and peripheral neuropathy caused by high-fat diet-induced type 2 diabetes in male rats

This research was conducted to investigate the possible beneficial impacts of voluntary exercise on sciatic tissue, nitric oxide levels, stereological changes, and peripheral neuropathy caused by "high-fat-diet (HFD)"-induced "type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)" in male rats. Rats were put into four experimental groups at random: "healthy control (C), voluntary exercise (VE), diabetic (D), and diabetic rats treated by voluntary exercise (VED)"; each group contain eight animals. Animals in VE and VED groups performed "voluntary exercise (VE)" for ten weeks. Animals in D and VED groups became diabetic after receiving a HFD for four weeks and an intraperitoneal injection (IP) of "streptozotocin (STZ)" (35 mg/kg). In order to evaluate mechanical and thermal algesia, hot plate, tail withdrawal, and von Frey tests were carried out. At the end of this study, serum NOx levels were assessed, and histological and stereological analyses were conducted. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds indicated considerable reduction (p < 0.001) which was followed by a remarkable enhance (p < 0.001) in thermal nociceptive threshold of D group. Tissue changes were also seen in sciatic nerve of D group. Voluntary exercise modified thermal and mechanical sensitivity in diabetic rats. It also improved the damaged sciatic nerve in diabetic animals.

Synergistic therapeutic effects of intracerebral transplantation of human modified bone marrow-derived stromal cells (SB623) and voluntary exercise with running wheel in a rat model of ischemic stroke

BackgroundMesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation therapy is a promising therapy for stroke patients. In parallel, rehabilitation with physical exercise could ameliorate stroke-induced neurological impairment. In this study, we aimed to clarify whether combination therapy of intracerebral transplantation of human modified bone marrow-derived MSCs, SB623 cells, and voluntary exercise with running wheel (RW) could exert synergistic therapeutic effects on a rat model of ischemic stroke.MethodsWistar rats received right transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Voluntary exercise (Ex) groups were trained in a cage with RW from day 7 before MCAO. SB623 cells (4.0 × 105 cells/5 μl) were stereotactically injected into the right striatum at day 1 after MCAO. Behavioral tests were performed at day 1, 7, and 14 after MCAO using the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) and cylinder test. Rats were euthanized at day 15 after MCAO for mRNA level evaluation of ischemic infarct area, endogenous neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The rats were randomly assigned to one of the four groups: vehicle, Ex, SB623, and SB623 + Ex groups.ResultsSB623 + Ex group achieved significant neurological recovery in mNSS compared to the vehicle group (p < 0.05). The cerebral infarct area of SB623 + Ex group was significantly decreased compared to those in all other groups (p < 0.05). The number of BrdU/Doublecortin (Dcx) double-positive cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus (DG), the laminin-positive area in the ischemic boundary zone (IBZ), and the mRNA level of BDNF and VEGF in SB623 + Ex group were significantly increased compared to those in all other groups (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study suggests that combination therapy of intracerebral transplantation SB623 cells and voluntary exercise with RW achieves robust neurological recovery and synergistically promotes endogenous neurogenesis and angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia, possibly through a mechanism involving the up-regulation of BDNF and VEGF.

How to coach people with psychiatric disorders in sports

Abstract: Introduction: A new Swiss teaching aid – “Sport without Borders: People with Psychiatric disorders” – was published at the end of 2020 and then evaluated six months later. The main question of the present qualitative evaluation was to what extent different aspects of the three macro levels – design, content, and applicability of the teaching material – are assessed as appropriate by the current trainers of the voluntary exercise and sports groups for people with psychiatric disorders. Methods: For this purpose, eight ( N=8) semi-structured interviews (maximum variation sampling) were conducted in spring 2021 with the trainers of various sports groups for people with psychiatric disorders in Switzerland. The recorded interviews were subsequently transcribed and analysed with nVivo according to Thematic Analysis. Results: The interviewees rated the teaching material as very successful and necessary in all aspects (design, content, and applicability of the teaching material). Regarding applicability of the teaching material, the interviewees mentioned the potential for development and expansion of sports groups, and mentioned interesting possible applications and needs. Discussion &amp; Conclusion: The results show that the current trainers of voluntary exercise and sports groups for people with psychiatric disorders are generally very satisfied with the teaching material. Compared to the existing literature in the context of physical activity and psychiatry, the current teaching material has significant language differences (e.g., avoiding lengthy and complicated sentences, minimum of academic terms) and is strongly oriented to the mass sports (lay)-coaches with none or low (para)-medical or academic background.

Differential effects of voluntary and forced exercise trainings on spatial learning ability and hippocampal biomarkers in aged female rats

This study aimed to compare the effects of voluntary and forced exercise trainings on cognitive functions and to evaluate their relationship with hippocampal synaptic proteins, neurotrophic factors and markers of oxidative damage in aged female rats. Aged female rats were randomly assigned to control, voluntary exercise training and forced exercise training groups. Voluntary or forced exercise trainings were performed for 12 weeks. At the end of the training period, cognitive functions of the animals were assessed with Morris water maze (MWM) test. After the behavioral test, hippocampus tissues were taken for the analysis of synaptophysin, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). During the MWM test, the number of platform crossings was higher in the voluntary exercise group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In the hippocampus tissue, levels of the synaptophysin, BDNF, NGF and SOD were higher, but MDA levels were lower in the voluntary exercise group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, hippocampal AChE concentration was higher, but PC levels were lower in the both voluntary and forced exercise groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, voluntary exercise was more effective intervention to improve spatial learning ability in aging process. Increased neurotrophic factors, synaptic proteins, and improved oxidative damage may play a role in these positive effects.

Methylglyoxal reduces molecular responsiveness to 4 weeks of endurance exercise in mouse plantaris muscle.

Endurance exercise triggers skeletal muscle adaptations, including enhanced insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, and mitochondrial biogenesis. However, exercise-induced skeletal muscle adaptations may not occur in some cases, a condition known as exercise resistance. Methylglyoxal (MG) is a highly reactive dicarbonyl metabolite and has detrimental effects on the body such as causing diabetic complications, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. This study aimed to clarify the effect of methylglyoxal on skeletal muscle molecular adaptations following endurance exercise. Mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12/group): sedentary control group, voluntary exercise group, MG-treated group, and MG-treated with voluntary exercise group. Mice in the voluntary exercise group were housed in a cage with a running wheel, whereas mice in the MG-treated groups received drinking water containing 1% MG. Four weeks of voluntary exercise induced several molecular adaptations in the plantaris muscle, including increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC1α), mitochondria complex proteins, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72), hexokinase II, and glyoxalase 1; this also enhanced insulin-stimulated Akt Ser473 phosphorylation and citrate synthase activity. However, these adaptations were suppressed with MG treatment. In the soleus muscle, the exercise-induced increases in the expression of TLR4, HSP72, and advanced glycation end products receptor 1 were inhibited with MG treatment. These findings suggest that MG is a factor that inhibits endurance exercise-induced molecular responses including mitochondrial adaptations, insulin signaling activation, and the upregulation of several proteins related to mitochondrial biogenesis, glucose handling, and glycation in primarily fast-twitch skeletal muscle.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study investigated the effect of methylglyoxal, which is a highly reactive carbonyl metabolite and has detrimental effects on the body, on skeletal muscle adaptations following endurance exercise. Evidences from this study show that methylglyoxal is a factor deteriorating responsiveness to endurance exercise in primarily fast-twitch skeletal muscle. The findings contribute to understand the internal factors that should be focused to maximize the exercise effects.

Voluntary exercise could reduce sperm malformations by improving hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonadal axis and kisspeptin/leptin signaling in type 2 diabetic rats.

Objective(s):Most male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) experience infertility. It is well established that regular physical activity could alleviate diabetic infertility symptoms. This study was designed to determine the effect of voluntary exercise on sperm malformation. Materials and Methods:Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (C), diabetic (D), voluntary exercise (Ex), and diabetic-voluntary exercise (D-Ex) groups. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) followed by a high-fat diet for four weeks. Voluntary exercise was performed by placing the animals in the rotary wheel cages for ten weeks. Sperm malformations were analyzed. Moreover, the hypothalamic leptin, kisspeptin, kisspeptin receptors (KissR), as well as plasma LH, FSH, testosterone, and leptin levels were evaluated. Results:Results showed that induction of T2DM caused increased sperm malformation, plasma, and hypothalamic leptin as well as decreased hypothalamic kisspeptin, KissR, and plasma LH levels compared with the C group (P<0.001 to P<0.01). Voluntary exercise in the Ex group increased hypothalamic KissR, plasma FSH, LH, and testosterone levels compared with the C group; however, it decreased sperm malformation and hypothalamic leptin levels (P<0.001 to P<0.05). Voluntary exercise in the D-Ex group reduced sperm malformation, hypothalamic leptin, and plasma testosterone while elevated hypothalamic kisspeptin and KissR protein levels compared with the D group (P<0.001 to P<0.01). Conclusion:The results illustrated voluntary exercise reduces sperm malformations by improving the HHG axis and kisspeptin/leptin signaling in rats with T2DM.

Exercise-Mediated Alteration of miR-192-5p Is Associated with Cognitive Improvement in Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction: Physical exercise is an important component of managing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). miRNAs can be modulated by exercise intervention. Objective: The study explored the involvement and potential mechanism of miR-192-5p in the protective effect of physical exercise on AD. Methods: Ninety AD patients were enrolled, in which 45 cases accepted cycling training for continuous 3 months. The expression changes of miR-192-5p before and after exercise were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. 8-month-old APP/PS1 double Tg mice were used as the AD animal model. Mice in the voluntary exercise (VE) group received VE for 4 weeks. Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate the learning and memory function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to calculate the level of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Results: AD patients showed elevated MMSE scores, decreased ADAS-cog and NPI-Q scores after 3 months of exercise. miR-192-5p was downregulated in the serum of AD patients and correlated with the levels of MMSE score, ADAS-cog, and NPI-Q score. A positive association was detected between serum miR-192-5p with TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels. MiR-192-5p is downregulated in the hippocampus tissues of mice after VE. Overexpression of miR-192-5p reversed the neuroprotective effect of exercise on AD in mice and promoted the inflammatory response of AD mice. Conclusion: MiR-192-5p can be modulated by the exercise intervention and involved in the protective effect of exercise on AD.

The Impact of Voluntary Exercise on Stroke Recovery.

Stroke treatment is limited to time-critical thrombectomy and rehabilitation by physiotherapy. Studies report beneficial effects of exercise; however, a knowledge gap exists regarding underlying mechanisms that benefit recovery of brain networks and cognition. This study aims to unravel therapeutic effects of voluntary exercise in stroke-induced mice to develop better personalized treatments. Male C57Bl6/JOlaHsd mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. After surgery, the animals were divided in a voluntary exercise group with access to running wheels (RW), and a control group without running wheels (NRW). During 6 days post-stroke, activity/walking patterns were measured 24/7 in digital ventilated cages. Day 7 post-surgery, animals underwent MRI scanning (11.7T) to investigate functional connectivity (rsfMRI) and white matter (WM) integrity (DTI). Additionally, postmortem polarized light imaging (PLI) was performed to quantify WM fiber density and orientation. After MRI the animals were sacrificed and neuroinflammation and cerebral vascularisation studied. Voluntary exercise promoted myelin density recovery corresponding to higher fractional anisotropy. The deteriorating impact of stroke on WM dispersion was detected only in NRW mice. Moreover, rsfMRI revealed increased functional connectivity, cerebral blood flow and vascular quality leading to improved motor skills in the RW group. Furthermore, voluntary exercise showed immunomodulatory properties post-stroke. This study not only helped determining the therapeutic value of voluntary exercise, but also provided understanding of pathological mechanisms involved in stroke.

Effect of Voluntary Training after the Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis on Some Myelin-Producing Proteins in Female C57BL/6 Mice

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of voluntary training period after the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) on some myelin-producing proteins in C57BL/6 female mice. Methods: In this experimental study first 28 mice, which were 6-8 weeks old, were purchased and were randomly divided into three groups. Exercise activity (n=12), healthy control (n=8) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) control (n=8). Voluntary exercise group did exercises, 1 hour, 5 days a week for 4 weeks after induction of EAE and having the clinical score one for two days in a row. 48 hours after final exercise section, the mice were killed and immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of MBP and CNPase proteins. Using SPSS version 16 software, multiple analysis of variance and LSD post hoc test were used to examine the groups' data differences. Results: The results showed that the expression of both proteins as a result of voluntary exercise had a significant increase in the exercise group compared to the EAE control group ( p&lt;0.05).( in White Matter: MBP, Wheel Running and Control EAE, P= .017; Wheel Running and Healthy Control, P= .001; CNPase, Wheel Running and Control EAE, P= .015; Wheel Running and Healthy Control, P= .000; in Gray Matter: MBP, Wheel Running and Control EAE, P= .000; Wheel Running and Healthy Control, P= .000; CNPase, Wheel Running and Control EAE, P= .005; Wheel Running and Healthy Control, P= .001. Conclusion: Voluntary exercise may have a positive effect on increasing myelination in treatment and control of MS.

Voluntary exercise improves sperm parameters in high fat diet receiving rats through alteration in testicular oxidative stress, mir-34a/SIRT1/p53 and apoptosis.

High fat diet can lead to testicular structural and functional disturbances, spermatogenesis disorders as well as infertility. So, the present investigation was proposed to clarify whether voluntary exercise could prevent high fat diet induced reproductive complications in rats through testicular stress oxidative and apoptosis. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups; control (C), voluntary exercise (VE), high fat diet (HFD) and high fat diet and voluntary exercise (VE+HFD) groups. The rats in the VE and VE+HFD groups were accommodated in apart cages that had running wheels and the running distance was assessed daily for 10weeks. In VE+HFD group, animals were fed with HFD for five weeks before commencing exercise. The sperm parameters, the expressions of testicular miR-34a gene, and P53 and SIRT1 proteins as well as testicular apoptosis were analyzed in all groups. The results indicated that voluntary exercise in VE+HFD group led to significantly increased GPX and SOD activities, SIRT1 protein expression, sperm parameters, and decreased the expression of miR34a gene and Acp53 protein, and cellular apoptosis index compared to HFD group (p<0.001 to p<0.05). The SOD and catalase activities, SIRT1 protein expression, sperm parameters in VE+HFD group were lower than of those of VE group, however, MDA content, expression of Acp53 protein, apoptosis indexes in VE+HFD group was higher than that of VE group (p<0.001 to p<0.05). This study revealed that voluntary exercise improved spermatogenesis, in part by decreasing the testicular oxidative stress status, apoptosis through alteration in miR-34a/SIRT1/p53 pathway.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Cardiopulmonary Responses and Predictors of Change in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of aerobic exercise on maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary responses and predictors of change in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). DesignSingle-center, parallel-group, rater-blind study. SettingResearch laboratory. ParticipantsIndividuals with mild to moderate PD (N=100). InterventionParticipants were enrolled in a trial evaluating the effect of cycling on PD and randomized to either voluntary exercise (VE), forced exercise (FE), or a no exercise control group. The exercise groups were time and intensity matched and exercised 3×/wk for 8 weeks on a stationary cycle. Main Outcome MeasuresCardiopulmonary responses were collected via gas analysis during a maximal graded exercise test at baseline and post intervention. ResultsExercise attendance was 97% and 93% for the FE and VE group, respectively. Average exercise heart rate reserve was 67%±11% for FE and 70%±10% for VE. No significant difference was present for change in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) post intervention, even though the FE group had a 5% increase in VO2peak. Both the FE and VE groups had significantly higher percentage oxygen consumption per unit time (V˙o2) at ventilator threshold (VT) than the control group compared with baseline values (P=.04). Mean V˙O2 at VT was 5% (95% CI, 0.1%-11%) higher in the FE group (P=.04) and 7% (2%, 12%) higher in VE group compared with controls. A stepwise linear regression model revealed that lower age, higher exercise cadence, and lower baseline VO2peak were most predictive of improved VO2peak. The overall model was found to be significant (P<.01). ConclusionsPeak and submaximal cardiopulmonary function may improve after aerobic exercise in individuals with PD. Lower age, higher exercise cadence, and lower baseline VO2peak were most predictive of improved VO2peak in this exercise cohort. The improvements observed in aerobic capacity were gained after a relatively short aerobic cycling intervention.

The Combination Effect of Voluntary Exercise and Crocin on Angiogenic miRNAs in High-Fat Diet/Low-Dose STZ-Induced Type2 Diabetes in Rats: miR-126 and miR-210

Background: As one of the major complications of diabetes, cardiovascular disease might result in early death in people with diabetes. miR-126 and 210 expressions undergo alterations in cardiac disease and cause heart failure. Methods: Animals were divided into the 5 groups of control (Con), diabetes (Dia), diabeticcrocin (Dia-Cro), diabetic-voluntary exercise (Dia-Exe), and diabetic-crocin-voluntary exercise (Dia-Cro-Exe). Type 2 diabetes was induced by the use of a high-fat diet (4 weeks) and injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (i.p, 35 mg/kg). Animals received crocin orally (50 mg/kg), and voluntary exercise was performed alone or together for 8 weeks. QRT–PCR method was used to determine the levels of miR-210 and miR-126 in cardiac tissue. Results: The levels of miR-210 and miR-126 in the cardiac tissue augmented in both the crocin and voluntary exercise groups in comparison with the non-treated group (p&lt;0.001). The use of combination therapy with exercise and crocin magnified their effects on miR-210 and miR-126 levels (p&lt;0.001). Moreover, MiR-210 levels were lower in the crocin group compared to the exercise group (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The results indicated that voluntary exercise combined with crocin might provide a novel therapeutic plan for cardiovascular disease through increasing miR-210 and miR-126 expression.

0285 Preventative Voluntary Exercise Ameliorate Synaptic-Pruning Defects on Sleep-Deprived Adolescent

Abstract Introduction Since adolescent is a critical period for brain development, adequate sleep during this period is essential to cognitive performance as well as the psychological health in later life. Emerging evidence on sleep-deprived animal models has detailed the impacts of sleep loss on the developing brain. For instance, our previous study demonstrated that 72 h sleep deprivation (SD) disrupted microglia-mediated synaptic refinement in the dentate gyrus (DG). Physical exercise is proved to counteract the harmful consequences of various stress or neurodegenerative models by modulating microglial function. Therefore, we hypothesized that physical exercise might be a preventive intervention to rescue the failure of synaptic pruning and microglial function after SD in adolescent mice. Methods C57/BL6 male mice 3 weeks were assigned to the home cage (HC), home cage with voluntary exercise (HC+VE), sleep deprivation (SD), or sleep deprivation with voluntary exercise (SD+VE) group. In the groups with VE, a running wheel was placed in the cage 11 days before the SD paradigm. Following 72 h SD, animals were subjected to a short-term memory test or sacrificed directly for further examination. Results Our results showed that impaired memory performance was reversed in sleep-deprived mice after VE. Also, the SD+VE group exhibited less dendritic spine density compared to the SD group, implying VE rescue the synaptic pruning defect after SD. Greater microglia phagocytic ability, characterized by increased internalized postsynaptic materials and lysosomal structure within individual microglia, were observed in the SD+VE compared to the SD group. We also investigated the mRNA expression of microglia-specific receptors critical to developmental synaptic refinement and found an upregulation of CX3CR1 expression in both HC+VE and SD+VE compared to sedentary groups. Conclusion Here we provided evidence featuring that developmental VE significantly alleviated the SD-induced memory defects. Moreover, the SD-induced synaptic pruning impairment and microglial maladaptation were also prevented by the VE regimen, suggesting that physical exercise is a possible therapeutic interventions to the cognitive performance as well as the developmental trajectories to the adolescent brain under the influence of sleep insufficiency. Support Supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China (Grant number: 104-2314-B-002-129-MY4).

Neuroprotective effect of different physical exercises on cognition and behavior function by dopamine and 5-HT level in rats of vascular dementia

The aim of the present study is to evaluate neuroprotective effect of different physical exercises on cognition and behavior function by dopamine and 5-HT in rats of vascular dementia. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into following 5 groups: control group (C group, n = 8), vascular dementia group (VD group, n = 8), treadmill exercise and vascular dementia group (TE-VD group, n = 8), in-voluntary exercise and vascular dementia group (IE-VD group, n = 8), voluntary exercise and vascular dementia group (VE-VD group, n = 8). The rats in TE-VD, IE-VD and VE-VD groups were received different physical exercise interventions, treadmill exercise, voluntary running exercise, involuntary running exercise respectively, total 4 weeks. Next, the rats in VE-VD, IE-VD, TE-VD and VD groups were received bilateral common carotids arteries operation to create vascular dementia model. Then, we use a passive avoid test to evaluate cognition and open field test to evaluate cognition autonomic activity in each group. The level in hippocampal dopamine and 5-HT were detected by microdialysis coupled with high performance liquid chromatography. Behavior results demonstrated that: compared with C group, the cognition in VD group significantly decreased (p < 0.001); compared with VD group, the cognition in VE-VD, IE-VD and TE-VD groups were significantly increased (p < 0.001). However, there are no significant difference between VE-VD, IE-VD and TE-VD groups (p> 0.05). In addition, hippocampal dopamine and 5-HT level significantly decreased in VD group when compared with C group (p < 0.001); hippocampal dopamine and 5-HT level in VE-VD, IE-VD and TE-VD groups were significantly increased when compared with VD group (p < 0.05). However, there are no significant difference between VE-VD, IE-VD and TE-VD groups (p> 0.05). Therefore, we concluded that different physical exercises, included treadmill exercise, in-voluntary exercise and voluntary exercise, all can protect cognition by up-regulate dopamine and 5-HT level in rats of vascular dementia.

Voluntary exercise improves voiding function and bladder hyperalgesia in an animal model of stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity: A multidisciplinary approach to the study of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome research network study.

The underlying mechanism of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is not well understood and evaluation of current therapeutic interventions has not identified any generally effective treatments. Physical activity has shown beneficial effects on individuals suffering from chronic pain. Anxiety-prone rats exposed to water avoidance stress (WAS) develop urinary frequency and lower bladder sensory thresholds with high face and construct validity for the study of IC/BPS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of chronic voluntary exercise on urinary frequency, voiding function, and hyperalgesia in animals exposed to WAS. Twenty-six female Wistar-Kyoto rats were exposed to WAS and thereafter randomized to either voluntary exercise for 3 weeks or sedentary groups. Voiding parameters were assessed at baseline, post-WAS, and weekly for 3 weeks. Before euthanasia, the animals underwent cystometrogram (CMG), external urinary sphincter electromyography, and assessment of visceromotor response (VMR) to isotonic bladder distension (IBD). WAS exposure resulted in adverse changes in voiding parameters. Compared with sedentary animals, animals in the voluntary exercise group had improved voiding parameters during metabolic cage and CMG testing, as well as improved bladder sensory thresholds as determined by VMR during IBD. Voluntary exercise in an animal model of chronic stress leads to improvement in voiding function and visceral bladder hyperalgesia.

The Effect of Voluntary Exercise and Prenatal Exposure to Sodium Valproate on Learning, Memory, and Anxiety of Rats' Offspring.

Background: Antiepileptic drugs, such as sodium valproate (SV), are teratogenic as their usage by the pregnant mother has been associated with an increased risk of major congenital abnormalities in the fetus. In this study, the effects of voluntary exercise and prenatal exposure to SV on learning, memory, and anxiety in rats’ offspring are investigatedMethods: In the present study, 70 female albino Wistar rats (200-240g) were used. The rats were categorized in seven groups: 1 and 2, pregnant rats with exposure to SV (10 mg/kg/day i.p) 3 and 4, pregnant rats with exposure to SV (20 mg/kg/day i.p) 5 and 6, pregnant rats with exposure to normal saline (0.4 ml/day i.p) and 7, pregnant rats with exposure to lamotrigine (20 mg/kg/day i.p). The even and odd groups were sedentary and voluntary exercise groups, respectively. Learning and memory were tested in male offspring using shuttle-box; anxiety was tested by elevated plus-maze (each group n=12). Statistical analyses were performed using the one-way ANOVA (the Tukey test) and/or two-way ANOVA on rankResults: The results showed that voluntary exercise in male rats caused improvement of latency and duration time in the dark box compared to sedentary groups (P=0.004). Moreover, the group administrated with 10 mg/kg SV showed better learning capability than the group administrated with 20 mg/kg SV. Voluntary exercise could also improve anxiety (P=0.001)Conclusion: This study indicated that exercise could increase learning capacity and improve memories in rats’ offspring whose mothers were exposed to SV. Voluntary exercise could improve anxiety too, and the effect was dose-dependent.

인삼녹엽 추출물 투여와 자발적 운동이 염증성 사이토카인 및 항세포사멸인자 발현에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of ginseng green leaf extract and voluntary exercise on inflammatory cytokine and anti-apoptosis expresses. To achieve this purpose, 28 male rats were selected to ingestion ginseng green leaf extract and let voluntary exercise for 4 weeks. Compared to normal diet control group, ginseng green leaf extracts ingestion group, voluntary exercise group, ginseng green leaf extracts ingestion and voluntary exercise group TNF-α concentration was no showed significantly, NF-κB concentration respectively group was no showed significantly. For the change of apoptosis, p53 no showed significantly and Bcl-2 showed significantly high activeness in the ginseng green leaf extracts ingestion and voluntary exercise group and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 was significantly decreased in the control group, ginseng green leaf extracts ingestion and voluntary exercise group significantly decreased . Therefore, the results suggest that immune function and apoptosis is improved by ginseng green leaf extract ingestion and/or exercise training that may inhibit the anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis process effectively increasing antioxidant capacity in rats. In this finding, various researches on the physiological agents which the ginseng green leafs possesses would give positive effect as a exercise functional food.