Effect of treadmill running on social isolation-induced behavioral deficits in male rats

Social isolation affects the nervous system and leads to behavioral disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill running on spatial memory and anxiety and depression behaviors in rats exposed to social isolation.
 
In this study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups as follows: 1) Control, 2) Isolation, 3) Treadmill and 4) Isolation-Treadmill. In groups 3 and 4, each rat lived alone in cage for 4 weeks. Groups 2 and 4 were trained 30 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. At the end of this period, spatial memory, anxiety and depression were evaluated using Morris water maze, elevated plus maze and forced swimming test, respectively.
 
Four weeks of isolation caused spatial memory impairment and anxiety and depression behaviors in the rats. The results of water maze test showed that the time and distance traveled to reach the hidden platform in the Treadmill-Isolation group significantly reduced compared to the Isolation group (P<0.05) and the elapsed time in the target quadrant increased (P<0.05). The results of elevated plus maze test showed that the percentage of entrance to the open arm and the percentage of staying in this arm in the Isolation-Treadmill group increased compared to the Isolation group (P<0.05). Also, the immobilization time of animals in the Isolation-Treadmill group in the forced swimming test was lower than the Isolation group (P<0.05).
 
Treadmill running improves spatial memory and decreases anxiety and depression behaviors in social isolated rats.