Motor improvement requires an increase in presynaptic protein expression and depends on exercise type and age

Experimental Gerontology
Rita Mara Soares GutierrezRaquel Simoni Pires

Abstract

The aging process is associated with structural and functional changes in the nervous system. Considering that exercise can improve the quality of life of the elderly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise protocols with different motor demands on synaptic protein expression (i.e., synapsin-I and synaptophysin). Cognitive and motor brain areas and the motor performance of adult and aged animals were analyzed. Adult (7 months old) and aged (18 months old) male Wistar rats were used. Animals were divided into the following groups: treadmill exercise (TE, rhythmic motor activity), acrobatic exercise (AE, complex motor activity) and sedentary (SED, control). The animals were exposed to exercise 3 times per week for 8 weeks. The brains were collected for immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting assays. Our results showed that both types of exercise induced changes in motor performance and synaptic protein expression in adult and aged animals. However, acrobatic exercise promoted a greater number of changes, mainly in the aged animals. In addition, protein expression changes occurred in a greater number of brain areas in the aged animals than in adult animals. There were clear increases in synapsin-I expression...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 5, 2020·Scientific Reports·Hyo Youl MoonJi-Seok Kim
Apr 4, 2021·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Suk-Young SongSung-Rae Cho
Jul 25, 2021·Behavioural Brain Research·Adaneuda Silva Britto SampaioRaquel Simoni Pires

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