Treadmill exercise ameliorates symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder through reducing Purkinje cell loss and astrocytic reaction in spontaneous hypertensive rats

Abstract

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder of cognition. We investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on Purkinje cell and astrocytic reaction in the cerebellum of the ADHD rat. Adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYR) weighing 210± 10 g were used. The animals were randomly divided into four groups (n= 15): control group, ADHD group, ADHD and methylphenidate (MPH)-treated group, ADHD and treadmill exercise group. The rats in the MPH-treated group as a positive control received 1 mg/kg MPH orally once a day for 28 consecutive days. The rats in the treadmill exercise group were made to run on a treadmill for 30 min once a day for 28 days. Motor coordination and balance were determined by vertical pole test. Immunohistochemistry for the expression of calbindinD-28 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cerebellar vermis and Western blot for GFAP, Bax, and Bcl-2 were conducted. In the present results, ADHD significantly decreased balance and the number of calbindin-positive cells, while GFAP expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the cerebellum were significantly increased in the ADHD group compared to the control group (P< 0.05, respectively). In contrast, treadmill exercise and MPH alleviated the ADHD-induced the decrease of balance and the number of calbindine-positive cells, and the increase of GFAP expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the cerebellum (P< 0.05, respectively). Therefore, the present results suggested that treadmill exercise might exert ameliorating effect on ADHD through reduction of Purkinje cell loss and astrocytic reaction in the cerebellum.

Animal Models of Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID)

“…Studies showed deficits in executive functions such as spatial working memory and attention, as well as locomotor impairments due to reduction of cerebellar volume in SHRs (Yun et al 2014). However, when the decline of locomotor activity is accounted for, SHRs performed significantly better than controls (Sontag et al 2013).…”

The effect of SPARK on social and motor skills of children with autism

“…30 Yan et al found that treadmill exercise might exert ameliorating effect on neurodevelopmental disorders by decreasing the rate of Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum. 31 Therefore, SPARK program which consist of activities requiring learning skills, motor control and social engagement, positively improves cortical, sub-cortical and cerebellar function. Although, in the present study, there is no direct measurement for cerebellar function, the results and findings of studies related to neurological base support our interpretation.…”

Molecular Basis of the Brain Renin Angiotensin System in Cardiovascular and Neurologic Disorders: Uncovering a Key Role for the Astroglial Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor AT1R

“…Traits that are often observed in individuals with ADHD, such as shorter attention spans, inability to focus, and hyperexcitability, are also observed in the SHR, making it an ideal model to investigate the etiology of ADHD (Adriani et al, 2003). Similar to individuals with ADHD, SHRs are also characterized by cerebellar atrophy and cerebellar impairment (Yun et al, 2014). Evidence of a greater incidence of learning disabilities has also been reported in children with ADHD diagnosed with primary hypertension than in those without (Adams et al, 2010).…”