Exercise increases the vulnerability of rat hippocampal neurons to kainate lesion.
Available evidence suggests that regular, moderate-intensity exercise has beneficial effects on neural health, perhaps including neuroprotection. To evaluate this idea further, we compared the severity of kainate-induced neuronal loss in exercised versus sedentary female rats. Stereological estimations of neuron number revealed that rats in the exercise condition exhibited significantly greater neuron loss in hippocampal region CA2/3, suggesting that high levels of physical activity may increase neuronal vulnerability to excitotoxicity.
Ramsden
Martin
M
Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA.
Berchtold
Nicole C
NC
Patrick Kesslak
J
J
Cotman
Carl W
CW
Pike
Christian J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012420:Running; D013997:Time Factors
D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D007608:Kainic Acid