《Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice》 ›› 2022, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (11): 1270-1277.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2022.11.006

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Effect of aerobic exercise on learning and memory, and synaptic plasticity of hippocampal neurons for sleep-deprived rats

LI Tong1,FANG Zhipeng2,SHAO Yuping2(),WANG Ping3   

  1. 1. School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
    2. School of Physical and Health Education, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
    3. Institute of Geriatrics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
  • Received:2022-10-29 Revised:2022-11-03 Published:2022-11-25 Online:2022-12-20
  • Contact: SHAO Yuping E-mail:1146042812@qq.com
  • Supported by:
    National Key R & D Program of China(2018YFC1705600)

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on sleep-deprived rats positioning cruise and space exploration activities, synaptic mechanism, involving hippocampal neuron morphology, dendritic spine density, synaptic related proteins and cyclic adenosine phosphate reactive element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway.

Methods A total of 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 12), model group (n = 12), model-exercise group (n = 12) and exercise group (n = 12). The model-exercise group and the exercise group accepted aerobic exercise with treadmill for four weeks. After exercise intervention, the model group and the model-exercise group were continuously deprived sleep for 72 hours with a multi-platform water environment. They were assessed with Morris Water Maze of positioning cruise and space exploration. The morphology and density of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons were observed with HE staining and Golgi staining. The expression of hippocampal proteins of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), synapsin (SYN), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), Rac1, BDNF, p-CREB and CREB were measured with Western blotting.

Results Compared with the control group, the latency and the total swimming distance increased in the model group (P< 0.05); the number of crossing the platform, the target quadrant residence time and distance decreased (P< 0.05); the neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region were disordered, the total density of dendritic spines per unit length and the density of mature, immature and filamentous pseudopodia dendritic spines decreased (P< 0.05); and the expression of PSD95, SYN, GAP43, Rac1, BDNF, p-CREB and CREB decreased (P< 0.05). Compared with the model group, the latency and total swimming distance of the model-exercise group decreased (P< 0.05); the target quadrant residence time and distance increased (P< 0.05); the number of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region increased and arranged neatly; the total density of dendritic spines per unit length and the density of mature, immature and filamentous pseudopod dendritic spines increased (P< 0.05); and the expression of PSD95, SYN, GAP43, Rac1, BDNF, p-CREB and CREB increased (P< 0.05).

Conclusion Aerobic exercise can alleviate the learning and memory impairment of sleep-deprived rats, which may relate to the regulation of CREB/BDNF signaling pathway in hippocampus for improvement of synaptic plasticity.

Key words: sleep deprivation, aerobic exercise, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, rats

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