Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Pathway after Downhill and Uphill Training in Rats

Introduction Elevation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the brain and subsequent phosphorylation of its cognate tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptors at tyrosine 816 (pTrkBtyr816) are largely involved in the positive effect of aerobic exercise on brain functioning. While BDNF levels were reported to increase in proportion with exercise intensity, the effect of the type of contraction is unknown. Therefore, the cerebral BDNF/TrkB pathway was investigated after uphill and downhill treadmill activities at equivalent intensity to preferentially induce eccentric and concentric contractions, respectively. Methods A treadmill activity (30 min/day for 7 consecutive days) either in a horizontal position at two different speeds to modulate intensity (experiment 1) or at three different inclinations (null, -10%, +5%) but at equivalent intensity to modulate the type of contraction (experiment 2) was induced in rats. Both experiments included sedentary rats. Levels of BDNF, pTrkBtyr816, synaptophysin (marker of synaptogenesis), endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylated at serine 1177 (peNOSser1177) and c-fos levels (indicators of elevation in blood flow in the cerebrovasculature and neuronal activity, respectively) were measured in motor- and cognition-related brain regions using western blotting analysis. Results Experiment 1 indicated that treadmill activity induces an intensity-dependent increase in peNOSser1177, c-fos and BDNF levels. Experiment 2 showed that intensity of exercise as well as activation of the cerebral BDNF pathway and synaptogenesis did not differ among horizontal, uphill and downhill treadmill activities. Conclusion The cerebral response of the BDNF pathway to a treadmill activity is dependent on exercise intensity, but not on the type of contraction (eccentric vs concentric). Corresponding author: Martin PEDARD, INSERM U1093, UFR des Sciences de Santé, 7 boulevard Jeanne d'Arc, 21000 DIJON, FRANCE. Tel: (33) 3 80 39 32 25, E-mail address: martinpedard@gmail.com The authors thank Suzanne Rankin for English revision. Authors declare that the results are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation and state that results of the present study do not constitute endorsement by ACSM. Conflict of interest and source of funding: There is no conflict of interest with regard to the work that was supported by funding from the University of Bourgogne and Franche Comté and INSERM. Submitted for publication May 2018. Accepted for publication August 2018. © 2018 American College of Sports Medicine

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