Cognitive and molecular assessment of long-term memory after discontinuation of physical activity

• Grant number: 16/20573-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2016
• End date: November 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Tânia Araújo Viel
• Grantee: Marcella Favoretto Pierrobon
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP). Fundação Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Despite the fact that physical training promotes cardiovascular and cognitive benefits, there are still doubts regarding the ability of the body to preserve the benefits of exercise for cognitive function after the cessation of training or activity. In our research group, we found that intense physical exercise (180 min / day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks) promoted improves in memory and increased BDNF density. Besides, it was found that with the physical detraining no maintenance of the memory acquired during 4 weeks was observed. As happens with cardiovascular benefits, acquired memory returned to the level of sedentary animals in 2 weeks of discontinuation of high-intensity physical training. In addition, there was no change in the density of the alpha7 nicotinic receptor in the trained or untrained animals. This project aims to evaluate the effects of spontaneous physical activity and interruption on the maintenance of long-term memory in female mice, in the density of alpha7 nicotinic receptors and in the density of the neurotrophin BDNF in hippocampus of different groups. The mice will be placed in individual boxes containing an activity wheel coupled to an odometer that will record the speed and distance traveled by the animal. For evaluation of memory, inhibitory avoidance equipment will be used. The memory recall assessments (Session Test - ST) will be carried out 24 hours after the section of acquisition and after four weeks of physical activity (Retest I). Then the group "in activity" will be divided into two other groups, "in activity" and "discontinued activity" and again, after two weeks (Retest II), the animals will be submitted to the inhibitory avoidance equipment for the assessment of memory retention. After the behavioral observations, the brain tissues will be isolated and alpha7 receptor density in the hippocampus will be evaluated by western-blotting and density of the neurotrophin BDNF by ELISA. Thus, it is intended to verify that the benefits of spontaneous physical exercise are more durable than those obtained with the exercise of high performance. (AU)