title: Effects of intermittent aerobic training on passive avoidance test (shuttle box) and stress markers in the dorsal hippocampus of wistar rats exposed to administration of homocysteine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevated amino acid homocysteine (Hcy) levels and insufficient physical activity are the risk factors in Alzheimer disease (AD) development. The effect of intermittent aerobic training on memory retention test and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the dorsal hippocampus of rats which were stimulated with Hcy is investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to determine the dose at which using Shuttle Box Test recognizes degenerative changes and/or memory impairment, 40 rats were injected by different dosages of Hcy to the dorsal hippocampus. It was observed that the required Hcy dose is 0.6 M. Then 44 rats were divided into four groups including training and control groups at 4 weeks of aerobic exercise in training and control groups at 8 weeks. To determine the effect of homocysteine on the memory impairment, Shuttle Box Test was used on treadmill (5 sessions/week, 12-18 m/min and 10-58.5 min).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hcy administration caused memory impairment and significant increase in TBARS. Significant decrease in TBARS level was noted after 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, but not after just 4 weeks of exercise compared with control group. In addition, performing 8 weeks of aerobic training led to significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) level and the time of avoidance learning test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperhomocysteinemia caused learning and memory deficits probably by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the present study showed that regular moderate intensity intermittent exercise may reverse this process and exercise is recommended as a strategy to improve symptoms of senile neurodegenerative disease .
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
authors.affiliation: Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
authors.affiliation: Asociate professor, College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, department of sport physiology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
authors.forename: Valiollah
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dabidi Roshan
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Department of Psychiatry , Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pourasghar
keywords: Attitude; Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry; Practice