Swimming exercise ameliorates multiple sclerosis-induced impairment of short-term memory by suppressing apoptosis in the hippocampus of rats

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is one of the autoimmune diseases in the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis occurs through multiple mechanisms, and it is also mediated in part by an apoptotic mechanism. Swimming exercise has been recommended for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of swimming exercise on short-term memory in relation with apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampus following induction of multiple sclerosis. For this study, step-down avoidance task, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 were performed. The animal model of multiple sclerosis was made by bilateral intracerebral ventricle injection of ethidium bromide. The rats in the swimming exercise groups were forced to swim for 30 min once daily for 14 consecutive days, starting 3 days after induction of multiple sclerosis. In the present results, short-term memory was deteriorated in the multiple sclerosis-induced rats. The number of TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was increased in the multiple sclerosis-induced rats. Swimming exercise alleviated multiple sclerosis-induced short-term memory impairment by suppressing apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampus. These effects of swimming exercise may aid symptom relief in the incurable neurodegenerative diseases.

Combined exercise ameliorates ovariectomy-induced cognitive impairment by enhancing cell proliferation and suppressing apoptosis

“…In a previous study, exercise inhibited apoptosis in various brain diseases, including Alzheimer disease and traumatic brain injury, by inhibiting Bax and caspase-3 and by activating Bcl-2. 21,27 Exercise activates various neurotrophins that promote cell survival and inhibit apoptosis. 48 In particular, apoptotic stimulation induces caspase-3 activation, but such caspase-3 activation can be blocked by BDNF.…”

“…25 In addition, exercise increases neurogenic nutrient expression 26 and inhibits neuronal cell death to improve cognitive function. 27 Several previous studies have reported that exercise influences the expression of neurotransmitters and provides support against anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, and miscellaneous psychological disorders. In particular, neurotransmitters are associated with emotional regulation, awareness, behavior and motor control, memory and learning, temperature regulation, pain transmission, food intake, stress responses, and brain development and maturation.…”

Treadmill exercise ameliorates symptoms of Alzheimer disease through suppressing microglial activation-induced apoptosis in rats

“…Caspase-3 is one of the most widely studies members of the caspase family and it is involved in apoptosis as the principal executor (Jin et al, 2014; Ko et al, 2009; Martin et al, 2002). Furthermore, caspase-3 is up-regulated and activated in the early-stage of apoptosis (Benchoua et al, 2001; Kang et al, 2013).…”

“…The latency in the step-down avoidance task was determined to evaluate the short-term memory, according to the previously described method (Jin et al, 2014). The rats were trained in a step-down avoidance task on the 28 days after starting the treadmill exercise.…”

Spermatogenesis Process Following Chronic Swimming and Standing in Cold, Warm and Lukewarm Water

“…Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process that takes places in different cells during both embryonic and adult life (23). Exercise can either cause (24), inhibit (25) or have no effect on apoptosis of different cell types (26). The probable mechanisms responsible for exercise -induced apoptosis include: increased glucocorticoid hormone, intracellular calcium concentration and reactive oxygen species (27).…”