Comparison of Nitric Oxide Changes in Hippocampal Tissue and Pain Sensation in Male Rats Parkinson's Model Following 6 Weeks of Continuous and Intermittent Training

Despite the beneficial roles of nitric oxide, its excessive synthesis causes neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the nitric oxide changes in the hippocampal tissue and the pain sensation of male Parkinson's rats after 6 weeks of continuous and interval training.

In this experimental study, 24 Wistar male rats were used. Rats were treated with Parkinson's using reserpine, and then divided into four groups (n=6). Aerobic exercise was performed for 6 weeks and 5 sessions per week. The duration of training increased from the first to the sixth week, it increased from 15 minutes on the first day to 40 minutes in the sixth week. The interval group performed the specified duration of the exercise twice in the first week, four times in the second to fourth weeks, and six times in the fifth to sixth weeks. At the end of 6 weeks, pain sensation was measured using formalin test and then rats were sacrificed. The tissue of the hippocampus was separated, and nitric oxide was measured using the ELISA method and special kits. The results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and LSD follow-up.

The results showed that Parkinson's disease increased nitric oxide levels (p ≤0.05). Continuous and interval aerobic exercise reduced nitric oxide (p ≤0.05). There was no significant difference between the two training groups (p ≤0.68). In addition, Parkinson's control group showed a significant increase in pain compared to the control group (p ≤0.01). Two types of exercise reduced pain (p ≤0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (p≤0.23).

According to the findings of this study, continuous and periodic aerobic exercise reduced nitric oxide levels and pain in the rats of the Parkinson's model.