Comparison of Voluntary, Forced, and Water-Resistance Exercise on Hippocampal BDNF and NGF Expression in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Younes  Baziyar; Khosro Jalali  Dehkordi; Baharak Moradi  Kelardeh; Farzaneh  Taghian; Seyed Ali  Hosseini

doi:10.18502/ehj.v11i2.20709

Younes Baziyar Department of Sport Physiology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Khosro Jalali Dehkordi Department of Sport Physiology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Baharak Moradi Kelardeh Department of Sport Physiology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Farzaneh Taghian Department of Sport Physiology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Seyed Ali Hosseini Department of Sport Physiology, Marv.C, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ehj.v11i2.20709

Keywords: Voluntary Exercise, Forced Exercise, Water-Resistance Exercise, Alzheimer’s, BDNF, NGF

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of eight weeks of voluntary, forced, and resistance training in water on the expression of BDNF and NGF genes in the hippocampus of mice in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: Thirty male C57BL/6 mice weighing between 250-280 grams and aged over 15 months (elderly) were randomly divided into 5 groups: 1. Control, 2. Alzheimer’s disease (ALZ), 3. Voluntary training (ALZ+V-Ex), 4. Forced training (ALZ+F-Ex), and 5. Resistance training (ALZ+R-Ex). The training groups underwent their respective exercises for eight weeks, five days per week. The expression of BDNF and NGF genes was evaluated using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: Tukey’s post hoc test showed a significant decrease in BDNF and NGF gene expression in the ALZ group compared to the control group (p = 0.001). Significant increases in BDNF and NGF expression were observed in the ALZ+V-Ex (p = 0.001), ALZ+F-Ex (p = 0.001), and ALZ+R-Ex (p = 0.001) groups compared to the ALZ group. Among the exercise groups, BDNF and NGF expression was significantly higher in the ALZ+V-Ex group compared to ALZ+F-Ex (p = 0.001) and ALZ+R-Ex (p = 0.001), and expression was also significantly higher in ALZ+R-Ex compared to ALZ+F-Ex (p = 0.01(.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that all three types of exercises—voluntary, forced, and water resistance training —significantly increased the expression of BDNF and NGF genes in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.