title: Endurance training enhances BDNF release from the human brain.
abstract: The circulating level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is reduced in patients with major depression and type-2 diabetes. Because acute exercise increases BDNF production in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, we hypothesized that endurance training would enhance the release of BDNF from the human brain as detected from arterial and internal jugular venous blood samples. In a randomized controlled study, 12 healthy sedentary males carried out 3 mo of endurance training (n = 7) or served as controls (n = 5). Before and after the intervention, blood samples were obtained at rest and during exercise. At baseline, the training group (58 + or - 106 ng x 100 g(-1) x min(-1), means + or - SD) and the control group (12 + or - 17 ng x 100 g(-1) x min(-1)) had a similar release of BDNF from the brain at rest. Three months of endurance training enhanced the resting release of BDNF to 206 + or - 108 ng x 100 g(-1) x min(-1) (P < 0.05), with no significant change in the control subjects, but there was no training-induced increase in the release of BDNF during exercise. Additionally, eight mice completed a 5-wk treadmill running training protocol that increased the BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus (4.5 + or - 1.6 vs. 1.4 + or - 1.1 mRNA/ssDNA; P < 0.05), but not in the cerebral cortex (4.0 + or - 1.4 vs. 4.6 + or - 1.4 mRNA/ssDNA) compared with untrained mice. The increased BDNF expression in the hippocampus and the enhanced release of BDNF from the human brain following training suggest that endurance training promotes brain health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. tseifert78@gmail.com
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brassard
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wissenberg
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Pernille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordby
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stallknecht
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adser
authors.forename: Anne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pilegaard
authors.forename: Henning B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Niels H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Secher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger