title: Treadmill exercise enhances NMDA receptor expression in schizophrenia mice.
abstract: Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric disorder with several symptoms including cognitive dysfunction. Although the causes of schizophrenia are still unclear, there is a strong suspicion that the abnormality in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor may contribute to schizophrenia symptoms. In the present study, the effect of treadmill exercise on the NMDA receptor expression was evaluated using MK-801-induced schizophrenia mice. Immunohistochemistry for expressions of NMDA receptor tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was conducted. Western blot for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was also performed. In the present results, the mice in the MK-801-treated group displayed reduced NMDA receptor expression. Enhanced TH expression and suppressed BDNF expression were also observed in the MK-801-treated mice. Treadmill exercise improved NMDA receptor expression in the MK-801-induced schizophrenia mice. Treadmill exercise also suppressed TH expression and enhanced BDNF expression in the MK-801-induced schizophrenia mice. The present study showed that down-regulation of NMDA receptor demonstrated schizophrenia-like parameters, meanwhile treadmill running improved schizophrenia-related parameters through enhancing NMDA receptor expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise and Health Science, College of Arts and Physical Education, Incheon National University, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon-Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, College of Health, Welfare, and Education, Tong Myong University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sam-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor; Schizophrenia; Treadmill exercise; Tyrosine hydroxylase