Article: Effects of voluntary running on plasma levels of neurotrophins, hippocampal cell proliferation and learning and memory in stressed rats

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TitleEffects of voluntary running on plasma levels of neurotrophins, hippocampal cell proliferation and learning and memory in stressed rats
AuthorsYau, SY1
Lau, BWM1
Zhang, ED1
Lee, JCD1 2
Li, A1
Lee, TMC1 2
Ching, YP1
Xu, A1
So, KF1 2
KeywordsBDNF
Corticosterone
Hippocampal cell proliferation
IGF-1
Stress
Issue Date2012
PublisherElsevier BV. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/neuroscience
CitationNeuroscience, 2012, v. 222, p. 289-301 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.07.019
AbstractPrevious studies have shown that a 2-week treatment with 40mg/kg corticosterone (CORT) in rats suppresses hippocampal neurogenesis and decreases hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and impairs spatial learning, all of which could be counteracted by voluntary wheel running. BDNF and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) have been suggested to mediate physical exercise-enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition. Here we examined whether such running-elicited benefits were accompanied by corresponding changes of peripheral BDNF and IGF-1 levels in a rat model of stress. We examined the effects of acute (5days) and chronic (4weeks) treatment with CORT and/or wheel running on (1) hippocampal cell proliferation, (2) spatial learning and memory and (3) plasma levels of BDNF and IGF-1. Acute CORT treatment improved spatial learning without altered cell proliferation compared to vehicle treatment. Acute CORT-treated non-runners showed an increased trend in plasma BDNF levels together with a significant increase in hippocampal BDNF levels. Acute running showed no effect on cognition, cell proliferation and peripheral BDNF and IGF-1 levels. Conversely, chronic CORT treatment in non-runners significantly impaired spatial learning and suppressed cell proliferation in association with a decreased trend in plasma BDNF level and a significant increase in hippocampal BDNF levels. Running counteracted cognitive deficit and restored hippocampal cell proliferation following chronic CORT treatment; but without corresponding changes in plasma BDNF and IGF-1 levels. The results suggest that the beneficial effects of acute stress on cognitive improvement may be mediated by BDNF-enhanced synaptic plasticity that is hippocampal cell proliferation-independent, whereas chronic stress may impair cognition by decreasing hippocampal cell proliferation and BDNF levels. Furthermore, the results indicate a trend in changes of plasma BDNF levels associated with a significant alteration in hippocampal levels, suggesting that treatment with running/CORT for 4 weeks may induce a change in central levels of hippocampal BDNF level, which may not lead to a significant change in peripheral levels.
ISSN0306-4522
2011 Impact Factor: 3.38
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.284
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.07.019
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorYau, SY
dc.contributor.authorLau, BWM
dc.contributor.authorZhang, ED
dc.contributor.authorLee, JCD
dc.contributor.authorLi, A
dc.contributor.authorLee, TMC
dc.contributor.authorChing, YP
dc.contributor.authorXu, A
dc.contributor.authorSo, KF
dc.date.accessioned2012-09-20T08:27:14Z
dc.date.available2012-09-20T08:27:14Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractPrevious studies have shown that a 2-week treatment with 40mg/kg corticosterone (CORT) in rats suppresses hippocampal neurogenesis and decreases hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and impairs spatial learning, all of which could be counteracted by voluntary wheel running. BDNF and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) have been suggested to mediate physical exercise-enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition. Here we examined whether such running-elicited benefits were accompanied by corresponding changes of peripheral BDNF and IGF-1 levels in a rat model of stress. We examined the effects of acute (5days) and chronic (4weeks) treatment with CORT and/or wheel running on (1) hippocampal cell proliferation, (2) spatial learning and memory and (3) plasma levels of BDNF and IGF-1. Acute CORT treatment improved spatial learning without altered cell proliferation compared to vehicle treatment. Acute CORT-treated non-runners showed an increased trend in plasma BDNF levels together with a significant increase in hippocampal BDNF levels. Acute running showed no effect on cognition, cell proliferation and peripheral BDNF and IGF-1 levels. Conversely, chronic CORT treatment in non-runners significantly impaired spatial learning and suppressed cell proliferation in association with a decreased trend in plasma BDNF level and a significant increase in hippocampal BDNF levels. Running counteracted cognitive deficit and restored hippocampal cell proliferation following chronic CORT treatment; but without corresponding changes in plasma BDNF and IGF-1 levels. The results suggest that the beneficial effects of acute stress on cognitive improvement may be mediated by BDNF-enhanced synaptic plasticity that is hippocampal cell proliferation-independent, whereas chronic stress may impair cognition by decreasing hippocampal cell proliferation and BDNF levels. Furthermore, the results indicate a trend in changes of plasma BDNF levels associated with a significant alteration in hippocampal levels, suggesting that treatment with running/CORT for 4 weeks may induce a change in central levels of hippocampal BDNF level, which may not lead to a significant change in peripheral levels.
dc.description.naturepostprint
dc.identifier.citationNeuroscience, 2012, v. 222, p. 289-301 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.07.019
dc.identifier.citeulike11200913
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.07.019
dc.identifier.epage301
dc.identifier.hkuros206524
dc.identifier.issn0306-4522
2011 Impact Factor: 3.38
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.284
dc.identifier.pmid22813995
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-84865616488
dc.identifier.spage289
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/166066
dc.identifier.volume222
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherElsevier BV. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/neuroscience
dc.publisher.placeNetherlands
dc.relation.ispartofNeuroscience
dc.rightsNOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Neuroscience. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Neuroscience, 2012, v. 222, p. 289-301. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.07.019
dc.rightsCreative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License
dc.subjectBDNF
dc.subjectCorticosterone
dc.subjectHippocampal cell proliferation
dc.subjectIGF-1
dc.subjectStress
dc.titleEffects of voluntary running on plasma levels of neurotrophins, hippocampal cell proliferation and learning and memory in stressed rats
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
  2. The University of Hong Kong