Hippocampal Adaptations to Continuous Aerobic Training: A Functional and Ultrastructural Evaluation in a Young Murine Model

Abstract

Aerobic training is known to influence cognitive processes, such as memory and learning, both in animal models and in humans. Particularly, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that aerobic exercise can increase neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, improve hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), and reduce age-related decline in mnemonic function. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Based on this evidence, the aim of our study was to verify whether the application of two aerobic training protocols, different in terms of speed and speed variation, could modulate synaptic plasticity in a young murine model. Therefore, we assessed the presence of any functional changes by extracellular recordings in vitro in mouse hippocampal slices and structural alterations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our results showed that an aerobic training protocol, well designed in terms of speed and speed variation, significantly contributes to improving synaptic plasticity and hippocampal ultrastructure, optimizing its benefits in the brain. Future studies will aim to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms involved in the modulation of synaptic plasticity induced by aerobic training.

Physical Exercise and Health: A Focus on Its Protective Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…In this regard, we recently evaluated the effects of an aerobic training protocol, administered three times a week for twelve consecutive weeks, on the synaptic plasticity of 4-month-old mice through electrophysiological recordings of hippocampal slices and ultrastructural analysis of the hippocampus. In agreement with previous data [ 29 ], aerobic training not only promoted an increase in synaptic plasticity compared to control mice, but also improved hippocampal ultrastructure, as demonstrated by the complete structural conservation of mitochondria, neurofilaments, and neurotubules, highlighting the effectiveness of aerobic training in improving learning and memory processes [ 30 ].…”

Trolox and recombinant Irisin as a potential strategy to prevent neuronal damage induced by random positioning machine exposure in differentiated HT22 cells

“…Importantly, similar results have been obtained by treatment of differentiated HT22 cells with r-Irisin. Although a role for it in counteracting the neuronal alterations induced by weightlessness has not yet been demonstrated, several evidences have proposed irisin as a critical regulator of cognitive function [ 53 ], being able to inhibit oxidative stress [ 54 ], promote BDNF accumulation in hippocampal neurons [ 55 , 56 ], improve synaptic plasticity in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease [ 57 ] and prevent neurodegeneration in mouse models of Parkinson’s disease [ 58 ]. Therefore, its therapeutic potential might not be limited to neurodegenerative diseases but also extend to preventing neuronal deficits that occur during spaceflight.…”

Whole Body Vibration Improves Brain and Musculoskeletal Health by Modulating the Expression of Tissue-Specific Markers: FNDC5 as a Key Regulator of Vibration Adaptations

“…Physical exercise is already known to promote cognitive function through the BDNF expression [ 39 ]. Noteworthily, FNDC5 has been proposed as one of the possible responses for this effect, through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)-mediated regulation, a highly conserved co-activator of transcription factors that preserves and protects neurons from destruction.…”