Effects of exercise-targeted hippocampal PDE-4 methylation on synaptic plasticity and spatial learning/memory impairments in D-galactose-induced aging rats

• DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06749-9
• Publication Date: 2023-12-05T21:29:33Z
• Authors: Yu Jin; Xue Li; Changling Wei; Qiongjia Yuan
• Keywords: Male; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Memory Disorders; Aging; Neuronal Plasticity; Spatial Learning; Animals; Galactose; Maze Learning; Hippocampus; Methylation; Research Article; Rats

Abstract Physical exercise reduces the effects of aging and cognitive decline by improving synaptic plasticity spatial learning. However, underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear. A total 45 Male SPF Sprague–Dawley rats were acclimatized then allocated into three groups, 15 in each group: saline control (DC) group, D-gal-induced (DA) + (DE) group. Six weeks intraperitoneal injections D-gal at a concentration 100 mg/kg body weight/d was injected to establish model DA DE groups. Morris water maze test implemented evaluate hippocampus related cognition. SOD activity MDA tested assess all H&E Nissl staining used observe histopathological changes hippocampal neurons rats. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting immunofluorescence techniques investigate expression genes proteins hippocampus. Massarray methylation system employed measure PDE-4 gene level rat tissues. Our results demonstrated that intervention improves function The CpG sites significantly increased. physical increased effectively decreased protein expression. These beneficial behavioral morphological attributed methylation, which activated cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway improved plasticity. Exercise induced is key mechanism underpinning amelioration learning/memory impairment, suggesting potential efficacy training delaying brain aging.