title: Moderate exercise prevents neurodegeneration in D-galactose-induced aging mice.
abstract: D-galactose has been widely used in aging research because of its efficacy in inducing senescence and accelerating aging in animal models. The present study investigated the benefits of exercise for preventing neurodegeneration, such as synaptic plasticity, spatial learning and memory abilities, in mouse models of aging. D-galactose-induced aging mice were administered daily subcutaneous injections of D-galactose at the base of the neck for 10 consecutive weeks. Then, the mice were subjected to exercise training by running on a treadmill for 6 days a week. Shortened escape latency in a Morris water maze test indicated that exercise improved learning and memory in aging mice. The ameliorative changes were likely induced by an upregulation of Bcl-2 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, the repression of apoptosis factors such as Fas and Bax, and an increase in the activity of glucose transporters-1 and 4. The data suggest moderate exercise may retard or inhibit neurodegeneration in D-galactose-induced aging mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Medicine, Beijing YouAn Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4102-4792
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Medicine, Beijing YouAn Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Medicine, Beijing YouAn Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's and Women's Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's and Women's Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's and Women's Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shou-Gang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wei
keywords: D-galactose; behavioral performance; brain aging; brain-derived neurotrophic factor; glucose transporters; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neurodegeneration; neuronal apoptosis; synaptic plasticity