Short-term exercise increases GDNF protein levels in spinal cord of young and old rats

Neuroscience, 2013 · DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.02.063 · Published: June 14, 2013

Simple Explanation

This study investigates whether exercise can change the amount of a protein called GDNF in the spinal cord of young and old rats. GDNF is important for the health of nerve cells. The study found that exercise, such as running and swimming, increased the amount of GDNF protein in the spinal cords of both young and old rats. The researchers also observed that the size of motor neuron cell bodies increased in exercised animals, suggesting a beneficial effect of exercise on these cells.

Study Duration

2 weeks

Participants

Young (6-month-old) and old (24-month-old) male Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Short-term exercise increases GDNF protein content in the lumbar spinal cord of both young and old rats.
2
Involuntary running in young rats appeared to elicit the greatest increase in GDNF protein content, followed by swimming and voluntary running.
3
Both young and old exercised animals showed a doubling in ChAT-positive motor neuron cell body areas compared to sedentary controls.

Research Summary

This study aimed to determine if short-term exercise alters GDNF protein content in the lumbar spinal cord of young and old rats. Different exercise protocols were tested. The results demonstrated that short-term exercise increases GDNF protein content, GDNF immuno-labeling and motor neuron size in the spinal cord of young and old animals. The study suggests that the neural protection/neural plasticity caused by exercise may be driven, in part, by enhanced GDNF production.

Practical Implications

Potential Therapeutic Intervention

Exercise could be a physiological method to enhance neurotrophic factor levels using intrinsic mechanisms in the spinal cord.

Understanding Exercise Intensity

Low to moderate intensity exercise may be a better stimulus for increasing neurotrophic factor levels in the spinal cord.

Counteracting Age-Related Decline

Exercise may protect motor neurons from undergoing atrophy with senescence.

Study Limitations

1
The study did not determine which specific cells are producing the GDNF protein observed in the spinal cord.
2
The molecular mechanisms underlying the change in GDNF molecular weight with age were not investigated.
3
Variations in intensity and duration of exercise in different studies may contribute to discrepancies in findings.

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