Effect of 8 weeks aerobic training on SRT1, CREB and BDNF genes expression in hippocampus of Wistar rats

Exercise through BDNF induces its beneficial effects on the brain. However, its cellular mechanisms are not fully understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks interval aerobic training on mRNA expression of SIRT1, CREB and BDNF genes in the hippocampus of male Westar rats.

Twelve 8 week old rats were the subjects of this study rats were randomly divided into two groups: exercise group and control group animals in the exercise group experienced interval aerobic exercise for 8 weeks (5 sessions per week at a speed of 10 to 15 m/min). Forty-eight hours after the last training session, animals were sacrificed and hippocampal tissue was extracted. mRNA expression of SIRT1, CREB and BDNF genes was determined by the real-time PCR method. An independent t-test was used to compare groups and significant differences were considered at the P≤0.05 level.

The results showed that the expression of SIRT1, CREB and BDNF mRNA levels in hippocampal tissue of the exercised group were significantly increased (P ≤0.001).

Overall, it appears that interval aerobic exercise is able to upregulate brain BDNF levels through the SIRT1/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway hence, this type of exercise training can be used to induce the beneficial effects of exercise on brain health.