Different protocols of treadmill exercise induce distinct neuroplastic effects in rat brain motor areas

Author(s)

Real, Caroline C. ^[1] ; Garcia, Priscila C. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Britto, Luiz R. G. ^[1] ; Pires, Raquel S. ^{[2, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol & Biophys, Lab Cellular Neurobiol, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Cidade Sao Paulo, Masters Program Phys Therapy, BR-03071000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Cidade Sao Paulo, Doctoral Program Phys Therapy, BR-03071000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brain Research; v. 1624, p. 188-198, OCT 22 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

A variety of exercise protocols have been used to promote experimental neuroplasticity. However, the plastic brain responses generated by several aspects of training (types, frequency, regimens, duration) remain undetermined. The aim of this study was to compare the plastic changes in the glutamatergic system and synaptic proteins in motor cortex, striatum and cerebellum promoted by two different treadmill exercise regimens. The present study analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting the expression of the subunits of AMPA receptors (GluA1 and GluA2/3) and synaptic proteins (synapsin I and synaptophysin) in adult male Wistar rat brains. The animals were divided into animals subjected to two different frequencies of aerobic exercise groups and sedentary animals. The exercise groups were: intermittent treadmill exercise (ITE) - animals that exercised 3 times a week (every other day) during four weeks, and continuous treadmill exercise (CTE) - animals that exercised every day during four weeks. Our results reveal that different protocols of treadmill exercise were able to promote distinct synaptic reorganization processes among the exercised groups. In general, the intermittent exercise regimen induced a higher expression of presynaptic proteins, whereas the continuous exercise regimen increased postsynaptic GluA1 and G1uA2/3 receptors. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/18161-5 - Neuroplasticity generated by different types of physical exercise in the rat brain
• Grantee: Raquel Simoni Pires
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/25049-2 - Correlation of cellular, molecular, behavioral and neurofunctional parameters in Parkinson’s Disease with physical exercise in an animal model and in human postmortem tissue
• Grantee: Caroline Cristiano Real Gregório
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral