Beneficial effects of Spirulina platensis, voluntary exercise and environmental enrichment against adolescent stress induced deficits in cognitive functions, hippocampal BDNF and morphological remolding in adult female rats

Introduction: Previous studies demonstrated that forced and voluntary exercise had ameliorative effects on behavioral tasks followed by Sleep Deprivation (SD) in intact female rats. The main goal of this research was evaluating the impact of voluntary exercise on cognitive functions while SD and ovariectomization is induced in female wistar rats. Methods: The rats were anesthesized combining dosage of ketamine and xylazine. Then, both ovaries were eliminated and 3 weeks after surgery the animals entered the study. The exercise protocol took 4 weeks of voluntary exercise in a wheel which was connected to home cage. For inducing a 72 hours deprivation the multiple platforms was applied. The cognitive functions were studied by exploiting the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Novel object recognition tests. Anxiety was evaluated by open field test and corticostrone measurement was carried out by ELISA method. One-way and two-way ANOVA and repeated measures were utilized for data analysis and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We observed significant spatial and recognition learning and memory impairments in OVX sleep-deprived rats compared to the control group and voluntary exercise alleviated the SD-induced learning and memory defects. Conclusion: We concluded that voluntary exercise can improve cognitive impairments followed by SD in OVX female rats.

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Chronic adolescent stress alters learning and cognition in adult female rats

Psychoneuroendocrinology ◽

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.12.128 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 100 ◽

pp. S36

Author(s):

Molly M. Hyer ◽

Gladys A. Shaw ◽

Samya K. Dyer ◽

Maria A. Bent ◽

Gretchen Neigh

Keyword(s):

Adult Female ◽

Female Rats ◽

Adolescent Stress ◽

Learning And Cognition

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Prenatal alcohol exposure and adolescent stress increase sensitivity to stress and gonadal hormone influences on cognition in adult female rats

Physiology & Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.02.033 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 148 ◽

pp. 157-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Wendy L. Comeau ◽

Kristen Lee ◽

Katie Anderson ◽

Joanne Weinberg

Keyword(s):

Adult Female ◽

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Female Rats ◽

Gonadal Hormone ◽

Stress Increase ◽

Adolescent Stress ◽

Prenatal Alcohol

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Effect of Methamphetamine on Cognitive Functions of Adult Female Rats Prenatally Exposed to the Same Drug

Physiological Research ◽

10.33549/physiolres.932598 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. S89-S98 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

E. MACÚCHOVÁ ◽

K. NOHEJLOVÁ-DEYKUN ◽

R. ŠLAMBEROVÁ

Keyword(s):

Estrous Cycle ◽

Prenatal Exposure ◽

Adult Female ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Female Rats ◽

Saline Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Prenatally Exposed ◽

Place Navigation ◽

Navigation Test

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prenatal methamphetamine (MA) exposure and application of the same drug in adulthood on cognitive functions of adult female rats. Animals were prenatally exposed to MA (5 mg/kg) or saline (control group). The cognitive function was tested as ability of spatial learning in the Morris Water Maze (MWM). Each day of the experiment animals received an injection of MA (1 mg/kg) or saline. Our results demonstrated that prenatal MA exposure did not affect the latency to reach the hidden platform or the distance traveled during the Place Navigation Test; however, the speed of swimming was increased in prenatally MA-exposed rats compared to controls regardless of the treatment in adulthood. MA treatment in adulthood increased the latency and distance when compared to controls regardless of the prenatal exposure. Neither prenatal exposure, nor treatment in adulthood affected memory retrieval. As far as the estrous cycle is concerned, our results showed that prenatally MA-exposed females in proestrus/estrus swam faster than females in diestrus. This effect of estrous cycle was not apparent in control females. In conclusion, our results indicate that postnatal, but not prenatal exposure to MA affects learning of adult female rats.

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Regional Differences in Brain Plasticity and Behaviour as a Function of Sex and Enrichment Type: Oxytocin Matters

10.1101/2021.05.26.445890 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jamshid Faraji ◽

Hamid Lotfi ◽

Alireza Moharrerie ◽

Yaghoob Jafari ◽

Nasrin Soltanpour ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Female Rats ◽

Bdnf Expression ◽

Bdnf Mrna ◽

Early Environment ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Male And Female Rats ◽

Social Environmental

The early environment is critical to brain development, but the relative contribution of physical vs. social stimulation is unclear. Here, we investigated in male and female rats the response to early physical and social environmental enrichment in relation to oxytocin (OT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. The findings show that males and females respond differently to prolonged sensorimotor stimulation from postnatal day 21-110 in terms of functional, structural and molecular changes in the hippocampus vs. medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Physical enrichment promoted motor and cognitive functions and hippocampal BDNF mRNA and protein expression in both sexes. Combined physical and social enrichment, however, promoted functional and structural gain predominantly in females. These changes were accompanied by elevated plasma oxytocin (OT) levels and BDNF mRNA expression in the mPFC while the hippocampus was not affected. Administration of an OT antagonist in females blocked the beneficial effects of enrichment and led to reduced cortical BDNF signaling. These findings suggest that an OT-based mechanism selectively stimulates a region-specific BDNF response which is dependent on the type of experience.

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