Effects of Continuous Training Intensity on Amyloid Beta1-42(Aβ1-42) Levels in Hippocampus of Homocysteine-Induced Alzheimer's Model Rats

The Amyloid beta (Aβ) level increases in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks continuous training with low and high intensities on Aβ1-42 levels in hippocampus of Alzheimer model rats. Fifty male Wistar rats (12 weeks old and mean weight 219.82±13.10 g) were divided into five groups including: healthy control, Alzheimer’s control, Alzheimer's low-intensity training, Alzheimer's high-intensity training and sham. To induce Alzheimer's disease, homocysteine is infused into the rats cerebroventricular (dose of 0.6M). Low intensity groups trained with 20m/min (50-55% VO2max) and high-intensity groups trained with 27m/min (75-80% VO2max), 60min/day, and five days per week on the treadmill. For data analysis, one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test were performed (p<0.05). The Aβ1-42 levels in hippocampus of Alzheimer's control group was significantly higher than healthy control group (p=0.001) and in training groups with both low and high intensity was significantly lower than Alzheimer's control group (p=0.02). But no significant differences were found between two intensity (p=0.99). It seems that continuous exercise training, through reducing the level of Aβ1-42 in hippocampus, can be useful for Alzheimer’s disease model rats and continuous training can be studied as a complementary therapy in Alzheimer's disease.