The effect of a swimming training on population of ganglion cell and expression NeuN protein in dorsal root ganglion of male wistar rats

One of the neuronal differentiation markers is NeuN proteins that expression in mature neurons. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of 20 days of swimming exercise on NeuN protein and ganglionic cell number in DRG in male Wistar rats. In this experimental study, 16 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were prepared from the Pasteur laboratory animal and randomly divided into two groups (control and experimental). The experimental group performed a swimming exercise program (30 min/day equal 65% Vo2max) for 20 days. 48 hours after the end of the last session the rats were Anesthetized and sacrificed and the dorsal root ganglion was isolated from the lower limb region. To assessing ganglion population and NeuN protein, cresyl violet and hemotoxylin-aosin staining were used respectively. The independent t student was used to determine of group differences. The results of this study showed that swimming exercises significantly increase NeuN protein (p < 0.05). Additionally, the number of ganglion cells in the exercise group significantly increased (p < 0.05). This study showed for the first time that the swimming exercise causes an increase in sensory neurons number and also induce differentiation of them that result in the development of mature sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglion in the spinal cord.