bims-empneu 2021-04-11 papers

Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2021 Apr 05.

The impact of physical exercise on hippocampus, in physiological condition and ageing-related decline: current evidence from animal and human studies.

Giovanni Lauretta, Silvia Ravalli, Grazia Maugeri, Velia D'Agata, Michelino Di Rosa, Giuseppe Musumeci.

Physical exercise (PE), notoriously, promotes a state of general well-being, throughout the entire human lifespan. Moreover, maintaining an adequate and regular PE habit results to be a powerful preventive factor towards many diseases and may also help in managing existing pathological conditions. PE induces structural and functional changes in various districts of the body, determining biological and psychological benefits. Additionally, in elderly, PE might represent a remarkable tool reducing cognitive impairments related to the normal aging processes and it has also been found to have an impact in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The present review aims to provide an overview about PE effects on hippocampus, since it is one of the brain regions most susceptible to aging and, therefore, involved in diseases characterized by cognitive impairment.

Keywords: Physical exercise; aging; cognitive decline; cognitive impairment; hippocampus; neurogenesis; neurotrophic factors.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/1389201022666210405142611

Life Sci. 2021 Apr 06. pii: S0024-3205(21)00444-6. [Epub ahead of print] 119459

Neuroprotective role of galantamine with/without physical exercise in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats.

Mohamed A El-Emam, Samar El Achy, Dalaal M Abdallah, Hanan S El-Abhar, Mennatallah A Gowayed.

AIMS: The fact that physical activity besides central cholinergic enhancement contributes in improving neuronal function and spastic plasticity, recommends the use of the anticholinesterase and cholinergic drug galantamine with/without exercise in the management of the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of multiple sclerosis (MS).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sedentary and 14 days exercised male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to EAE. Hereafter, exercised rats continued on rotarod for 30 min for 17 consecutive days. At the onset of symptoms (day 13), EAE sedentary/exercised groups were subdivided into untreated and post-treated with galantamine. The disease progression was assessed by EAE score, motor performance, and biochemically using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cerebellum and brain stem samples were used for histopathology and immunohistochemistry analysis.
KEY FINDINGS: Galantamine decreased EAE score of sedentary/exercised rats and enhanced their motor performance. Galantamine with/without exercise inhibited CSF levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), besides caspase-3 and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) expression in the brain stem. Contrariwise, it has elevated CSF levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2) and enhanced remyelination of cerebral neurons. Noteworthy, exercise boosted the drug effect on Bcl-2 and Bax.
SIGNIFICANCE: The neuroprotective effect of galantamine against EAE was associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic potentials, along with increasing BDNF and remyelination. It also normalized regulatory T-cells levels in the brain stem. The impact of the add-on of exercise was markedly manifested in reducing neuronal apoptosis.

Keywords: Antiinflammatory; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; Foxp3; Galantamine; Neuronal apoptosis; Remyelination

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119459

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021 Apr 06.

Exercise Ameliorates Fluoride-induced Anxiety- and Depression-like Behavior in Mice: Role of GABA.

Qiqi Cao, Jixiang Wang, Yanru Hao, Fangye Zhao, Rong Fu, Yanghuan Yu, Jundong Wang, Ruiyan Niu, Shengtai Bian, Zilong Sun.

Fluoride exposure caused anxiety- and depression-like behavior in mice. Meanwhile, exercise contributes to relieve anxiety and depression. However, the effects of exercise on anxiety- and depression-like behavior in fluorosis mice remain unclear. In the current study, thirty-six Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) female mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control group (C, gavage with distilled water); exercise group (E, gavage with distilled water and treadmill exercise (speed, 10 m/min; time, 30 min/day)); fluoride group (F, gavage with 24 mg/kg sodium fluoride (NaF)); and exercise plus fluoride group (EF, gavage with 24 mg/kg NaF and treadmill exercise). All treatments lasted for 8 weeks. A number of entries into and time spent in the open zone in the elevated zero maze (EZM), resting time in the tail suspension test (TST) and levels of serotonin (5-HT) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), were significantly altered in F when compared to C. Meanwhile, the anxiety-like behavior in the EZM and the depression-like behavior in the TST were significantly improved in EF when compared to group F. Exercise significantly enhanced fluoride-induced low GABA level, with less effect on the concentration of 5-HT. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expressions of GABA synthesis and transport-related proteins of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65 and GAD67 and vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) were all strikingly decreased in F, while those in EF were increased. In conclusion, exercise ameliorates anxiety- and depression-like behavior in fluorosis mice through increasing the expressions of GABA synthesis and transport-related proteins, rather than 5-HT system.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Exercise; Fluoride; GABA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02678-2

J Physiol Sci. 2021 Apr 06. 71(1): 12

Effect of intermittent isometric handgrip exercise protocol with short exercise duration on cognitive performance.

Shotaro Saito, Takuro Washio, Hironori Watanabe, Soichi Ando, Shigehiko Ogoh.

The handgrip exercise, a small muscle exercise, is useful for exercise therapy, particularly in the elderly and bedridden patients. The isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise has been utilized in training programs to reduce resting blood pressure; however, the acute effects of the IHG exercise on cognitive performance are not fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of an intermittent IHG exercise protocol with short exercise duration, which minimizes the arterial blood pressure response to exercise, on cognitive performance. Twenty-two young healthy subjects performed the intermittent IHG exercise protocol, which consisted of 30-s IHG and 45-s recovery × 16 trials; the exercise intensity of the IHG exercise was 30% of the maximal voluntary contraction. Cognitive performance was evaluated before and after the exercise with the Go/No-Go and memory recognition tasks. Specifically, the reaction time (RT) and performance accuracy were measured. The intermittent IHG exercise protocol did not change the RT or performance accuracy of either the Go/No-Go task (P = 0.222 and P = 0.260, respectively) or the memory recognition task (P = 0.427 and P = 0.245, respectively). These findings suggest that the intermittent IHG exercise protocol with short exercise duration may not provide enough stimulation to improve cognitive performance despite being useful as a safe exercise therapy in the elderly and in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Executive function; Exercise pressor reflex; Go/No-Go task; Memory recognition task; Static exercise

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12576-021-00796-z

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2021 Mar 18. pii: S2211-0348(21)00172-3. [Epub ahead of print]51 102905

Do baseline cognitive status, participant specific characteristics and EDSS impact changes of cognitive performance following aerobic exercise intervention in multiple sclerosis?

Annette Rademacher, Niklas Joisten, Sebastian Proschinger, Jonas Hebchen, Marit Lea Schlagheck, Wilhelm Bloch, Roman Gonzenbach, Jan Kool, Jens Bansi, Philipp Zimmer.

PURPOSE: Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). Physical exercise represents a promising non-pharmacological therapy option, however, potential predictors for successful cognitive improvements mediated by exercise remain to be elucidated in order to optimize targeted exercise training regimens. One of the most promising exercise training regime in this context is high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Against this backdrop, this study i) analysed the effects of a three-week HIIT compared to moderate continuous exercise on cognitive performance and ii) investigated potential predictors for changes of cognitive performance following a three-week aerobic exercise intervention.
METHODS: Datasets of two randomized controlled trials (RCT) were pooled, resulting in a total sample size of n = 130 persons with MS (pwMS) who either performed HIIT or moderate intensity continuous (MCT) exercise 3-5x/ week for three weeks. Cognitive performance was assessed with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS. I) Potential within (time) and interaction (time x group) effects for cognitive performance were investigated with univariate analyses of covariance (ANCOVA). II) Potential predictors for changes of cognitive performance were assessed by multiple linear regression models.
RESULTS: ANCOVA revealed significant time effects for all cognitive outcomes and a time x group interaction for verbal learning (p=.045), with HIIT inducing superior effects compared to moderate continuous exercise (MCT). Cognitive status (impaired/intact cognition) (p= .008) and exercise regime (HIIT/moderate continuous) (p=.040) influenced changes of verbal learning. Cognitive status (p=.006) and EDSS (p=.048) affected changes of visuospatial memory in pwMS. The models accounted for 5.4% and 7.7% of the variance.
CONCLUSION: Cognitive status, exercise regime and EDSS potentially impact changes of specific cognitive domains following aerobic exercise. Further predictors for changes of cognitive performance following an aerobic exercise intervention need to be investigated as current results accounted only for a limited amount of variance. RCTs that investigate effects of physical exercise on cognitive performance should include only pwMS with impaired baseline cognitive performance. To better understand the impact of exercise on cognitive performance, it is furthermore recommendable to include cognitive assessments in clinical routine.

Keywords: Exercise; High-intensity; Processing speed; Verbal learning; Visuospatial memory

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.102905

Front Physiol. 2021 ;12 626640

Autonomic Function in Patients With Parkinson's Disease: From Rest to Exercise.

Jeann L Sabino-Carvalho, James P Fisher, Lauro C Vianna.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder classically characterized by symptoms of motor impairment (e.g., tremor and rigidity), but also presenting with important non-motor impairments. There is evidence for the reduced activity of both the parasympathetic and sympathetic limbs of the autonomic nervous system at rest in PD. Moreover, inappropriate autonomic adjustments accompany exercise, which can lead to inadequate hemodynamic responses, the failure to match the metabolic demands of working skeletal muscle and exercise intolerance. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear, but relevant alterations in several discrete central regions (e.g., dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, intermediolateral cell column) have been identified. Herein, we critically evaluate the clinically significant and complex associations between the autonomic dysfunction, fatigue and exercise capacity in PD.

Keywords: blood pressure; dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve; exercise; parasympathetic activity; sympathetic activity

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.626640