Exercise increases leptin levels correlated with IGF-1 in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of adolescent male and female rats.
It is known that regular aerobic exercise has positive effects on hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. We have previously have been able to demonstrate that aerobic exercise increased IGF-1 in hippocampus. Leptin, which is associated with cognitive functions, is also involved in fat metabolism and stimulates energy consumption. While it is known that leptin stimulates IGF-1 production in hepatocytes, little known is on the link between IGF-1 and leptin in brain during aerobic exercise. In this study, we investigated the effects of regular aerobic exercise on leptin, leptin receptor expression levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Additionally, we investigated the correlation of IGF-1 levels with leptin and leptin receptor expression. During the experiment, exercise group was run on a treadmill for 30min per session at a speed of 8m/min and 0° slope, five times a week for 6 weeks. Leptin, leptin expression, IGF-1 levels and cell numbers increased in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of exercise groups. Blood leptin levels increased in female rats in exercise group; whereas it did not change in male rats; blood IGF-1 levels were found to be increased in exercised male rats. There was a strong positive correlation between hippocampal leptin levels and hippocampal IGF-1 levels; also a strong positive correlation between hippocampal leptin receptor expression and hippocampal IGF-1. These results indicate that, increased leptin and leptin receptor expression are correlated with IGF-1 in regular aerobic exercised rats. Blood leptin and IGF-1 levels were also found to be associated with gender. Females had high blood leptin levels and males had high blood IGF-1 levels in the exercise groups.
Division of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Physiology, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey. Electronic address: nazan.uysal@deu.edu.tr.
Nazan
N
Uysal
Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey.
Sinem
S
Agilkaya
Department of Biochemistry, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey.
Ali Riza
AR
Sisman
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Ulas Mehmet
UM
Camsari
Department of Physiology, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey.
Celal
C
Gencoglu
Division of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Physiology, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey.
Ayfer
A
Dayi
Division of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Physiology, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey.
Ilkay
I
Aksu
Department of Histology and Embriology, Dokuz Eylul University, Balcova, Izmir, Turkey.
Basak
B
Baykara
Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey.
Sultan
S
Cingoz
Division of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Physiology, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey.
Muge
M
Kiray
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020738:Leptin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D020738:Leptin; C548904:insulin-like growth factor-1, rat; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Exercise; Hippocampus; IGF1; Leptin; Leptin receptor; Prefrontal cortex; Rat