School of Health Sciences, Department of Basic Sciences Research, University of Business and Social Sciences (UCES), Bs As, Argentina.
Brain Res. 2011 May 10;1389:71-82. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.03.005. Epub 2011 Mar 31.
Several reports suggest that nitric oxide (NO) could play a critical role on synaptic plasticity related to physical activity improving learning and memory; thus, physical exercise would have important effects on cerebral health. In order to analyze the long-term effects of chronic moderate physical training on the morphology and activity of nitrergic neurons belonging to the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum, and their relationship with behavioral parameters. Wistar rats were aerobically trained (AT) up to the age of 18months and compared to sedentary controls (SC). At the end of the training protocol behavioral parameters were analyzed in an eight-arms radial maze. Rats were sacrificed by perfusion fixation with 4% paraformaldehyde. Brains were dissected out and coronal sections containing the three mentioned areas were obtained. The neurons expressing nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were stained using the technique of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) and their morphological and densitometric parameters were quantified by image analysis. Afterwards, the isoforms of NOS were determined by immunofluorescence. Results revealed AT rats learned faster, performed less mistakes and were more successful than SC rats in the maze. The nitrergic neurons of the cerebral cortex were larger and they had an increased number of dendrites. The NADPH-d reactivity in the cortex and striatum was upregulated. Colocalization was significant for the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), in both groups. In conclusion, moderate and chronic exercise had a positive effect on cognitive performance and anxiety related behavior. An upregulation of the nitrergic system was detected in AT rats and this fact could be involved in this beneficial action on the aged subjects.
有几项报告表明，一氧化氮（NO）可能在与体力活动相关的突触可塑性中发挥关键作用，从而改善学习和记忆；因此，体育锻炼对大脑健康有重要影响。为了分析慢性适度体育锻炼对大脑皮层、海马体和纹状体中属于氮能神经元的形态和活性及其与行为参数的关系的长期影响，Wistar 大鼠进行了有氧训练（AT），直至 18 个月大，并与久坐不动的对照组（SC）进行了比较。在训练方案结束时，在八臂放射状迷宫中分析了行为参数。大鼠通过灌注固定用 4%多聚甲醛进行灌注固定。取出大脑并获得包含上述三个区域的冠状切片。使用 NADPH-黄递酶（NADPH-d）技术对表达一氧化氮合酶（NOS）的神经元进行染色，并通过图像分析对其形态和密度参数进行量化。之后，通过免疫荧光测定 NOS 的同工型。结果表明，AT 大鼠在迷宫中比 SC 大鼠学习更快、犯的错误更少且更成功。大脑皮层的氮能神经元更大，树突数量增加。皮层和纹状体中的 NADPH-d 反应性上调。在两个组中，神经元型一氧化氮合酶（nNOS）的共定位是显著的。总之，适度和慢性运动对认知表现和焦虑相关行为有积极影响。在 AT 大鼠中检测到氮能系统的上调，这一事实可能参与了对老年受试者的有益作用。
