The effect of four weeks of aerobic exercise on cognitive function and expression levels of PGC1α and VEGF genes in the hippocampus of old rats

Subject Areas : Sports Science and Healthy

Ensieh Ahmadpour ¹ , Maghsoud Peeri ² , Mohammad Ali Azarbayjani ³

1 - PhD. Student, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Professor, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Professor, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2022-12-07 Accepted : 2023-01-16 Published : 2022-12-22

Keywords: spatial memory, Male wistar rats, Learning, Aging, Aerobic exercise, Hippocampus,

Abstract :

Aging is an important risk factor for cognitive functions. On the other hand, exercise improves brain health and improves cognitive functions. However, the mechanisms of these benefits have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of four weeks of intermittent aerobic exercise with moderate intensity on cognitive function and the expression level of PGC1α and VEGF genes in the hippocampus of old rats. For this purpose, 20-month-old male Wistar rats were divided into 2 exercise training groups (number = 8 heads) and control (number = 8 heads). The animals of the sports group performed intermittent aerobic training with moderate intensity for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. In order to investigate learning and spatial memory, the animals were subjected to the Morris water maze test 48 hours after the last training session. Then, the animals were killed and the hippocampal tissue was extracted. Real time-PCR method was used to measure gene expression. Statistical analysis was done using independent t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient at a significant level of P£0.05. The results showed that aerobic exercise improved learning performance (P ≥ 0.05) and spatial memory (P ≥ 0.001) and the expression level of PGC1α (P ≥ 0.01) and VEGF (P ≥ 0.001) Increasing. Also, a significant positive correlation between PGC1α gene expression and VEGF gene expression in the hippocampus was observed (p≥0.001, r=0.894). In addition, there was a significant inverse relationship between VEGF gene expression and the average time spent to find the platform (p≥0.05, r=-0.578), and there was a significant positive relationship with the time spent in the quadrant of the target circle (p≥0.01, r=0.713). In general, aerobic exercise improves learning performance and spatial memory in old animals; It seems that exercise-induced upregulation of the PGC1α/VEGF signaling pathway in the brain is at least partially involved in this adaptation.

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