title: The effects of forced exercise on hippocampal plasticity in the rat: A comparison of LTP, spatial- and non-spatial learning.
abstract: Physical activity may have the potential to improve cognitive function. Here we show that forced treadmill-running results in selective improvements in hippocampal plasticity. Rats that underwent exercise training demonstrated enhanced expression of long-term potentiation in dentate gyrus and enhanced object recognition learning. Spatial learning in the Morris watermaze was unaffected by exercise. These changes were associated with an increase in expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the dentate gyrus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohle
authors.forename: Aine M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor