Effect of Exercise on Learning and Memory in Rats after Intracerebroventricular Injection of Streptozotocin

Given the positive effects of exercise on the central nervous system, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of treadmill running on learning and memory in rats with induced Alzheimer’s disease and intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Studied rats were divided in 4 groups: the sham-rest, the sham-exercise, the alzheimer-rest and the alzheimer-exercise. To produce rat Alzheimer’s model, STZ was infused in lateral ventricles of the brain. The exercise program was treadmill running with 20 m/min velocity and 0O inclination for 50 min/day, for 4 weeks. For evaluation of learning and memory in rats, passive avoidance learning test was used. Totally 37 rats in 4 groups were examined. The latency time for the first entrance to dark chamber one day and one week after shock was significantly shorter in Alzheimer–rest group comparing to Alzheimer–exercise and sham–rest groups. These results suggest that exercise probably is effective in prevention and alleviation of cognitive disorders in Alzheimer’s disease.