Physical Exercise Restores the Generation of Newborn Neurons in an Animal Model of Chronic Epilepsy

Abstract

Neurogenesis impairment is associated with the chronic phase of the epilepsy in humans and also observed in animal models. Recent studies with animal models have shown that physical exercise is capable of improving neurogenesis in adult subjects, alleviating cognitive impairment and depression. Here, we show that there is a reduction in the generation of newborn granule cells in the dentate gyrus of adult rats subjected to a chronic model of epilepsy during the postnatal period of brain development. We also show that the physical exercise was capable to restore the number of newborn granule cells in this animals to the level observed in the control group. Notably, a larger number of newborn granule cells exhibiting morphological characteristics indicative of correct targeting into the hippocampal circuitry and the absence of basal dendrite projections was also observed in the epileptic animals subjected to physical exercise compared to the epileptic animals. The results described here could represent a positive interference of the physical exercise on the neurogenesis process in subjects with chronic epilepsy. The results may also help to reinterpret the benefits of the physical exercise in alleviating symptoms of depression and cognitive dysfunction.

Exercise-linked consequences on epilepsy

“…Neurogenesis impairment is related to the chronic phase of the epilepsy and can be also observed in animal models [91]. A recent study has shown that there is a significant reduction in the production of newborn granule cells in the dentate gyrus, a neurogenesis area in the hippocampus, of adult rats subjected to a chronic model of epilepsy during the postnatal period of brain development [91].…”

“…Neurogenesis impairment is related to the chronic phase of the epilepsy and can be also observed in animal models [91]. A recent study has shown that there is a significant reduction in the production of newborn granule cells in the dentate gyrus, a neurogenesis area in the hippocampus, of adult rats subjected to a chronic model of epilepsy during the postnatal period of brain development [91]. The results of this study also showed that the physical exercise protocol adopted was capable of restoring the number of newborn granule cells in these animals to the same level found in the control group.…”

Pathophysiology and Clinical Utility of Non-coding RNAs in Epilepsy

“…Neurogenesis impairment participate in the pathophysiology of epilepsy in humans and also observed in animal models (Mendonca et al, 2017 ). Aberrant hippocampal neurogenesis can cause epilepsy and seizures can also effect hippocampal neurogenesis.…”