NADPH-diaphorase histochemical changes in the hippocampus, cerebellum and striatum are correlated with different modalities of exercise and watermaze performances.

Full Abstract

Nitric oxide is involved in memory and motor learning. We investigated possible influences of exercise on spatial memory and NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemical activity in the hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum. Fifteen albino Swiss mice between the 22nd and 55th post-natal days were exercised in the following modalities:
voluntary (V), acrobatic (A), acrobatic/voluntary (AV) and forced (F) and compared to inactive group (I). After the exercise period, all subjects were tested in the water maze for 3 days. Animal brains were processed for NADPH-d histochemistry. Densitometry of the neuropil of the hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum and morphometric analysis of NADPHd+ type I neurons of the striatum were done. Exercise groups presented higher levels of NADPH-d activity in the molecular and polymorphic layers of dentate gyrus and lacunosum molecular layer of CA1. The A group presented higher NADPH-d activity in the cerebellar granular layer than all other groups. Branching points and dendritic segment densities of NADPH-d type I neurons were higher in V, A and AV than in F and I groups. Exercise groups revealed best performances on water maze tests. Thus, different modalities of exercise increases in different proportions for the nitrergic activity in the hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum, and these changes seem to be beneficial to spatial memory.

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Author information

Author/s: Torres, João Bento (JB); Assunção, Jarila (J); Farias, José Augusto (JA); Kahwage, Rafael (R); Lins, Nara (N); Passos, Aline (A); Quintairos, Amanda (A); Trévia, Nonata (N); Diniz, Cristovam Wanderley Picanço (CW);

Affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Expérimentation cérébrale (Exp Brain Res), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Nov; vol 175 (issue 2) : pp 292-304

Dates: Created 2006/10/20; Completed 2007/05/15; Revised 2008/02/15;

PMID: 16763833, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Analysis of Variance
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Brain - enzymology
Cerebellum - enzymology
Corpus Striatum - enzymology
Hippocampus - enzymology

Hippocampus - enzymology
Immunohistochemistry
Maze Learning - physiology
Mice
NADPH Dehydrogenase - metabolism
Physical Conditioning, Animal
Time Factors

Associated Chemicals: NADPH Dehydrogenase (EC 1.6.99.1)

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