Effect of forced physical exercise on sleep architecture in rats with temporal lobe epilepsy

• Grant number: 12/10738-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Tufik
• Grantee: Cristiano de Lima
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Humans and animals studies have demonstrated many positive effects of exercise on epilepsy. In our previous study, we showed that acute physical exercise contributed to a reduction of epileptiform discharges in young adults with generalized and focal epilepsy. In addition, we found a greater number of awakenings in these individuals. It is known that epilepsy affects the sleep pattern, mainly in temporal lobe epilepsy. The pilocarpine experimental model reproduces several features of human temporal lobe epilepsy and is one of the most widely used models in preclinical research. To investigate the influence of forced exercise in sleep pattern and frequency of seizures in rats with epilepsy. 100 Wistar-Hannover adult males rats will be distributed into 4 groups: Group 1: rats without epilepsy and physical exercise (SEF-CTRL, n = 25), Group 2: rats without epilepsy submitted to physical exercise (EF-CTRL, n = 25), group 3: rats with epilepsy without physical exercise (Pilo-SEF, n = 25), Group 4: rats with epilepsy and submitted to physical exercise (Pilo-EF, n = 25). Groups 2 and 4 will be submitted to a training program during 30 days on a treadmill. After this protocol, the effects of physical exercise in sleep will be analyzed. Additionally, receptors and proteins of hypothalamus (IGF-1R, p-AKT, beta-CaMKII, beta-actin, synapsin 1 and synaptophysin), blood for analysis hormone (corticosterone and testosterone) and serum levels of IGF-1 neurotrophin will be investigated. It is extremely important translational research correlating the modulating effect of exercise on sleep and the subjacent mechanisms of epilepsy.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE LIMA, CRISTIANO; BARBOSA DE LIRA, CLAUDIO ANDRE; ARIDA, RICARDO MARIO; ANDERSEN, MONICA LEVY; MATOS, GABRIELA; DE FIGUEIREDO FERREIRA GUILHOTO, LAURA MARIA; TARGAS YACUBIAN, ELZA MARCIA; DE ALBUQUERQUE, MARLY; TUFIK, SERGIO; ANDRADE, MARILIA DOS SANTOS; et al. Association between leisure time, physical activity, and mood disorder levels in individuals with epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior, v. 28, n. 1, p. 47-51, JUL 2013. (10/15110-8, 12/10738-4)