Voluntary exercise reduces oxidative stress and disease severity in mice with multiple sclerosis

Oxidative stress and the production of nitrogen (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis and the progression of MS. This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise on disease severity, NRF2 protein levels, and xanthine oxidase in the spinal cord in the chronic period of the disease.Thirty female C57Bl6 mice (6-8 weeks) were divided into voluntary exercise, EAE, and healthy control. After induction of EAE by MOG35-55 and after the mice showed the clinical score of one for two consecutive days, they performed one hour of voluntary exercise, five days, for four weeks. 48 hours after the last training session, the rats were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine, and the spinal cord tissue was removed. The location of NRF2 proteins in the gray and white matter of the spinal cord were investigated by immunohistochemistry, and xanthine oxidase was measured by xanthine oxidase kit according to the kit manufacturer's instructions by ELISA method.Voluntary exercise increased NRF2 protein levels in the white matter (P = 0.0001) and gray matter of the spinal cord (P = 0.0001) and decreased xanthine oxidase levels in the spinal cord (P = 0.001), and attenuated disease severity in the chronic period (P = 0.01).Voluntary exercise reduces oxidative stress and disease in the chronic period of the disease and is a good strategy for controlling and treating MS.