Exercise-Induced Neuroprotection in theSpasticHan Wistar Rat: The Possible Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Moderate aerobic exercise has been shown to enhance motor skills and protect the nervous system from neurodegenerative diseases, like ataxia. Our lab uses thespasticHan Wistar rat as a model of ataxia. Mutant rats develop forelimb tremor and hind limb rigidity and have a decreased lifespan. Our lab has shown that exercise reduced Purkinje cell degeneration and delayed motor dysfunction, significantly increasing lifespan. Our study investigated how moderate exercise may mediate neuroprotection by analyzing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB. To link BDNF to exercise-induced neuroprotection, mutant and normal rats were infused with the TrkB antagonist K252a or vehicle into the third ventricle. During infusion, rats were subjected to moderate exercise regimens on a treadmill. Exercised mutants receiving K252a exhibited a 21.4% loss in Purkinje cells compared to their controls. Cerebellar TrkB expression was evaluated using non-drug-treated mutants subjected to various treadmill running regimens. Running animals expressed three times more TrkB than sedentary animals. BDNF was quantified via Sandwich ELISA, and cerebellar expression was found to be 26.6% greater in mutant rats on 7-day treadmill exercise regimen compared to 30 days of treadmill exercise. These results suggest that BDNF is involved in mediating exercise-induced neuroprotection.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Human Polymorphism Impairs the Beneficial Exercise-Induced Neurobiological Changes in Mice.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.726490332.793532666 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Henriette van Praag

Keyword(s):

Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Human Polymorphism ◽

Exercise Induced

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Treadmill exercise restores high fat diet-induced disturbance of hippocampal neurogenesis through β2-adrenergic receptor-dependent induction of thioredoxin-1 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.734523116.793554293 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Henriette van Praag

Keyword(s):

Neurotrophic Factor ◽

High Fat Diet ◽

Adrenergic Receptor ◽

Treadmill Exercise ◽

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Hippocampal Neurogenesis ◽

High Fat ◽

Thioredoxin 1 ◽

Β2 Adrenergic Receptor

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The influence of vigorous aerobic exercise on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and estradiol in young, healthy women as a function of the menstrual cycle

10.31234/osf.io/hwegb ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Ahmad ◽

Rodney Hansen ◽

Matthew Schmolesky

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Cycle Exercise ◽

Acute Bout ◽

Healthy Women ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Serum Bdnf

AbstractResearch suggests strong inter-relationships between physical exercise, levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), levels of estrogen, and the menstrual cycle, and yet no single study has examined these factors collectively in humans. The current study assessed the effect of an acute bout of vigorous aerobic exercise (20 minutes of stationary cycling at 80% of heart rate reserve) on serum BDNF and estradiol in healthy, eumenorrheic women, ages 18-28. In addition, this study determined whether basal BDNF or the exercise-induced increase in BDNF varies throughout the menstrual cycle. Thirty-four subjects were assigned to an experimental (n = 27) or control condition (n = 7). Exercise transiently increased both estradiol (51.2%) and BDNF (23.6%), and basal levels of BDNF and estradiol predicted the magnitude of the exercise-induced increases. Basal BDNF did not vary significantly throughout the menstrual cycle. Exercise-induced changes in BDNF did not correlate with menstrual cycle day or basal estradiol. Basal estradiol and basal BDNF showed a marginally significant positive correlation. Taken together, these results indicate that brief, vigorous aerobic exercise is sufficient to elevate both BDNF and estradiol in healthy women and that the menstrual cycle dramatically influences the magnitude of exercise-induced changes in estradiol, but not BDNF

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