title: The effect of combined therapy of exercise and nootropic agent on cognitive function in focal cerebral infarction rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of combined therapy of exercise and nootropic agent on cognitive function in a focal cerebral infarction rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty 10-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to photothrombotic cerebral infarction of the left parietal lobe. All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A was photothrombotic cerebral infarction rats without any treatment (n=10); group B was photothrombotic cerebral infarction rats with swimming exercise (n=10); group C was photothrombotic cerebral infarction rats with oral administration of acetyl-L-carnitine (n=10); group D was photothrombotic cerebral infarction rats with swimming exercise and oral administration of acetyl-L-carnitine (n=10). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze test on the 1st day, and the 1st, 2nd, and 4th week after the induction of cerebral infarction. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the hippocampus were measured. The neuronal cells of the hippocampus were histopathologically evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The escape latency was shorter in groups B, C, and D than in group A. However, the differences were not statistically significant at the 1st, 2nd and 4th week. The activity of SOD was the highest in group D. The level of MDA was the lowest in group D. We observed more normal neuronal cells in groups B, C, and D.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined therapy of exercise and nootropic agent was helpful in ameliorating oxidative stress in the focal cerebral infarction rat model. However, the effect did not translate into improvement of cognitive function.
authors: Department of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Center for Aging and Geriatrics, Regional CardioCerebroVascular Center, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju 501-757, Korea.
authors: Min-Keun
authors: MK
authors: Song
authors: Hyo-Jeong
authors: HJ
authors: Seon
authors: In-Gyu
authors: IG
authors: Kim
authors: Jae-Young
authors: JY
authors: Han
authors: In-Sung
authors: IS
authors: Choi
authors: Sam-Gyu
authors: SG
authors: Lee