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Szulc-Lerch K, Yeung J, de Guzman AE, Egan S, Yee Y, Fernandes D, Lerch JP, Mabbott DJ, Nieman BJ. Exercise promotes growth and rescues volume deficits in the hippocampus after cranial radiation in young mice. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 36:e5015. [PMID: 37548099 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Human and animal studies suggest that exercise promotes healthy brain development and function, including promoting hippocampal growth. Childhood cancer survivors that have received cranial radiotherapy exhibit hippocampal volume deficits and are at risk of impaired cognitive function, thus they may benefit from regular exercise. While morphological changes induced by exercise have been characterized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in humans and animal models, evaluation of changes across the brain through development and following cranial radiation is lacking. In this study, we used high-resolution longitudinal MRI through development to evaluate the effects of exercise in a pediatric mouse model of cranial radiation. Female mice received whole-brain radiation (7 Gy) or sham radiation (0 Gy) at an infant equivalent age (P16). One week after irradiation, mice were housed in either a regular cage or a cage equipped with a running wheel. In vivo MRI was performed prior to irradiation, and at three subsequent timepoints to evaluate the effects of radiation and exercise. We used a linear mixed-effects model to assess volumetric and cortical thickness changes. Exercise caused substantial increases in the volumes of certain brain regions, notably the hippocampus in both irradiated and nonirradiated mice. Volume increases exceeded the deficits induced by cranial irradiation. The effect of exercise and irradiation on subregional hippocampal volumes was also characterized. In addition, we characterized cortical thickness changes across development and found that it peaked between P23 and P43, depending on the region. Exercise also induced regional alterations in cortical thickness after 3 weeks of voluntary exercise, while irradiation did not substantially alter cortical thickness. Our results show that exercise has the potential to alter neuroanatomical outcomes in both irradiated and nonirradiated mice. This supports ongoing research exploring exercise as a strategy for improving neurocognitive development for children, particularly those treated with cranial radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Szulc-Lerch
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jonas Yeung
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - A Elizabeth de Guzman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Shannon Egan
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yohan Yee
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Darren Fernandes
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Donald J Mabbott
- Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Brian J Nieman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada
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2
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Schmill MP, Thompson Z, Lee D, Haddadin L, Mitra S, Ezzat R, Shelton S, Levin P, Behnam S, Huffman KJ, Garland T. Hippocampal, Whole Midbrain, Red Nucleus, and Ventral Tegmental Area Volumes Are Increased by Selective Breeding for High Voluntary Wheel-Running Behavior. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2023; 98:245-263. [PMID: 37604130 DOI: 10.1159/000533524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Uncovering relationships between neuroanatomy, behavior, and evolution are important for understanding the factors that control brain function. Voluntary exercise is one key behavior that both affects, and may be affected by, neuroanatomical variation. Moreover, recent studies suggest an important role for physical activity in brain evolution. We used a unique and ongoing artificial selection model in which mice are bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior, yielding four replicate lines of high runner (HR) mice that run ∼3-fold more revolutions per day than four replicate nonselected control (C) lines. Previous studies reported that, with body mass as a covariate, HR mice had heavier whole brains, non-cerebellar brains, and larger midbrains than C mice. We sampled mice from generation 66 and used high-resolution microscopy to test the hypothesis that HR mice have greater volumes and/or cell densities in nine key regions from either the midbrain or limbic system. In addition, half of the mice were given 10 weeks of wheel access from weaning, and we predicted that chronic exercise would increase the volumes of the examined brain regions via phenotypic plasticity. We replicated findings that both selective breeding and wheel access increased total brain mass, with no significant interaction between the two factors. In HR compared to C mice, adjusting for body mass, both the red nucleus (RN) of the midbrain and the hippocampus (HPC) were significantly larger, and the whole midbrain tended to be larger, with no effect of wheel access nor any interactions. Linetype and wheel access had an interactive effect on the volume of the periaqueductal gray (PAG), such that wheel access increased PAG volume in C mice but decreased volume in HR mice. Neither linetype nor wheel access affected volumes of the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum (VP), or basolateral amygdala. We found no main effect of either linetype or wheel access on neuronal densities (numbers of cells per unit area) for any of the regions examined. Taken together, our results suggest that the increased exercise phenotype of HR mice is related to increased RN and hippocampal volumes, but that chronic exercise alone does not produce such phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret P Schmill
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Zoe Thompson
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
- Department of Biology, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah, USA
| | - Daisy Lee
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Laurence Haddadin
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Shaarang Mitra
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Raymond Ezzat
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Samantha Shelton
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Phillip Levin
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Sogol Behnam
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Kelly J Huffman
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Theodore Garland
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
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3
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Xu D, Meng Y, An S, Meng W, Li H, Zhang W, Xue Y, Lan X, Wang X, Li M, Zhang X, Zhihao Z, Zhao Y, Yang H, Zhang C, Zhang R, Zhen Z. Swimming exercise is a promising early intervention for autism-like behavior in Shank3 deletion rats. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 29:78-90. [PMID: 36221783 PMCID: PMC9804047 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION SHANK3 is an important excitatory postsynaptic scaffold protein, and its mutations lead to genetic cause of neurodevelopmental diseases including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), Philan McDermid syndrome (PMS), and intellectual disability (ID). Early prevention and treatment are important for Shank3 gene mutation disease. Swimming has been proven to have a positive effect on neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS Shank3 gene exon 11-21 knockout rats were intervened by a 40 min/day, 5 day/week for 8-week protocol. After the intervention, the rats were tested to behavioral measures such as learning and memory, and the volume and H-spectrum of the brain were measured using MRI; hippocampal dendritic spines were measured using Golgi staining and laser confocal. RESULTS The results showed that Shank3-deficient rats had significant deficits in social memory, object recognition, and water maze learning decreased hippocampal volume and number of neurons, and lower levels of related scaffold proteins and receptor proteins were found in Shank3-deficient rats. CONCLUSION It is suggested that early swimming exercise has a positive effect on Shank3 gene-deficient rats, which provides a new therapeutic strategy for the prevention and recovery of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xu
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina,Sports and Health Editorial OfficePeople's education pressBeijingChina
| | - Yunchen Meng
- Department of P.E.China University of Mining and Technology‐BeijingBeijingChina
| | - Shasha An
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Wenshu Meng
- College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Hanran Li
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences and Department of PsychologyUniversity of MacauTaipaMacau
| | - Weinan Zhang
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yaqi Xue
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xinyu Lan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina,Neuroscience Research InstitutePeking UniversityBeijingChina,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health and Family Planning CommissionPeking UniversityBeijingChina,Autism Research Center of Peking University Health Science CenterBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoxi Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and MoxibustionChina Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Mingjuan Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina,Neuroscience Research InstitutePeking UniversityBeijingChina,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health and Family Planning CommissionPeking UniversityBeijingChina,Autism Research Center of Peking University Health Science CenterBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhang Zhihao
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Haodong Yang
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain ProtectionCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina,Neuroscience Research InstitutePeking UniversityBeijingChina,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health and Family Planning CommissionPeking UniversityBeijingChina,Autism Research Center of Peking University Health Science CenterBeijingChina,Department of Integration of Chinese and Western MedicineSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhiping Zhen
- College of P.E and SportsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
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4
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Aguilar-Moreno A, Ortiz J, Concha L, Alcauter S, Paredes RG. Brain circuits activated by female sexual behavior evaluated by manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272271. [PMID: 35913950 PMCID: PMC9342731 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows obtaining anatomical and functional information of the brain in the same subject at different times. Manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) uses manganese ions to identify brain activity, although in high doses it might produce neurotoxic effects. Our aims were to identify a manganese dose that does not affect motivated behaviors such as sexual behavior, running wheel and the rotarod test. The second goal was to determine the optimal dose of chloride manganese (MnCl2) that will allow us to evaluate activation of brain regions after females mated controlling (pacing) the sexual interaction. To achieve that, two experiments were performed. In experiment 1 we evaluated the effects of two doses of MnCl2, 8 and 16 mg/kg. Subjects were injected with one of the doses of MnCl2 24 hours before the test on sessions 1, 5 and 10 and immediately thereafter scanned. Female sexual behavior, running wheel and the rotarod were evaluated once a week for 10 weeks. In experiment 2 we followed a similar procedure, but females paced the sexual interaction once a week for 10 weeks and were injected with one of the doses of MnCl2 24 hours before the test and immediately thereafter scanned on sessions 1, 5 and 10. The results of experiment 1 show that neither dose of MnCl2 induces alterations on sexual behavior, running wheel and rotarod. Experiment 2 demonstrated that MEMRI allow us to detect activation of different brain regions after sexual behavior, including the olfactory bulb (OB), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), the amygdala (AMG), the medial preoptic area (MPOA), the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), the striatum (STR) and the hippocampus (Hipp) allowing the identification of changes in brain circuits activated by sexual behavior. The socio sexual circuit showed a higher signal intensity on session 5 than the reward circuit and the control groups indicating that even with sexual experience the activation of the reward circuit requires the activation of the socio sexual circuit. Our study demonstrates that MEMRI can be used repeatedly in the same subject to evaluate the activation of brain circuits after motivated behaviors and how can this activation change with experience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Ortiz
- Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Luis Concha
- Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Sarael Alcauter
- Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Raúl G Paredes
- Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla, UNAM, Querétaro, México
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5
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Zhou XA, Blackmore DG, Zhuo J, Nasrallah FA, To X, Kurniawan ND, Carlisle A, Vien KY, Chuang KH, Jiang T, Bartlett PF. Neurogenic-dependent changes in hippocampal circuitry underlie the procognitive effect of exercise in aging mice. iScience 2021; 24:103450. [PMID: 34877505 PMCID: PMC8633984 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We have shown that the improvement in hippocampal-based learning in aged mice following physical exercise observed is dependent on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) and is regulated by changes in growth hormone levels. The changes in neurocircuitry, however, which may underlie this improvement, remain unclear. Using in vivo multimodal magnetic resonance imaging to track changes in aged mice exposed to exercise, we show the improved spatial learning is due to enhanced DG connectivity, particularly the strengthening of the DG-Cornu Ammonis 3 and the DG-medial entorhinal cortex connections in the dorsal hippocampus. Moreover, we provide evidence that these changes in circuitry are dependent on neurogenesis since they were abrogated by ablation of newborn neurons following exercise. These findings identify the specific changes in hippocampal circuitry that underlie the cognitive improvements resulting from physical activity and show that they are dependent on the activation of neurogenesis in aged animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Alice Zhou
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel G. Blackmore
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Junjie Zhuo
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Fatima A. Nasrallah
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - XuanVinh To
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Nyoman D. Kurniawan
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alison Carlisle
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - King-Year Vien
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kai-Hsiang Chuang
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tianzi Jiang
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Perry F. Bartlett
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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6
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Ratuski AS, Makowska IJ, Dvorack KR, Weary DM. Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18683. [PMID: 34548608 PMCID: PMC8455539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98356-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory mice are typically housed in “shoebox" cages that limit the expression of natural behaviours. Temporary access to more complex environments (playpens) may improve their welfare. We aimed to assess if access to playpens is rewarding for conventionally-housed mice and to document mouse behaviour during playpen access. Female C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, and DBA/2J mice were provided temporary access to a large enriched playpen three times per week; control mice remained in their home cages. We measured latency to enter playpens and anticipatory behaviour to determine if access was rewarding, and recorded mouse behaviour during playpen sessions. Over time, playpen mice entered the playpen more quickly; latency declined from 168 ± 22 to 13 ± 2 s over the 14-d trial. As expected, playpen mice showed an increase in anticipatory behaviour before playpen access (mean ± SE = 19.7 ± 2.6 behavioural transitions), while control mice showed no change in anticipatory behaviour relative to baseline values (2.4 ± 1.6 transitions). Mice in the playpen performed more ambulatory behaviours than control mice who remained in home cages (21.5 ± 0.7 vs 6.9 ± 1.1 observations of 25 total observations). We conclude that conventionally-housed mice find voluntary playpen access rewarding, and suggest this as a useful option for providing laboratory mice with access to more complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Ratuski
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z6, Canada.
| | - I Joanna Makowska
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z6, Canada
| | - Kaitlyn R Dvorack
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z6, Canada
| | - Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z6, Canada
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7
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Wilckens KA, Stillman CM, Waiwood AM, Kang C, Leckie RL, Peven JC, Foust JE, Fraundorf SH, Erickson KI. Exercise interventions preserve hippocampal volume: A meta-analysis. Hippocampus 2021; 31:335-347. [PMID: 33315276 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hippocampal volume is a marker of brain health and is reduced with aging and neurological disease. Exercise may be effective at increasing and preserving hippocampal volume, potentially serving as a treatment for conditions associated with hippocampal atrophy (e.g., dementia). This meta-analysis aimed to identify whether exercise training has a positive effect on hippocampal volume and how population characteristics and exercise parameters moderate this effect. Studies met the following criteria: (a) controlled trials; (b) interventions of physical exercise; (c) included at least one time-point of hippocampal volume data before the intervention and one after; (d) assessed hippocampal volume using either manual or automated segmentation algorithms. Animal studies, voxel-based morphometry analyses, and multi-modal interventions (e.g., cognitive training or meditation) were excluded. The primary analysis in n = 23 interventions from 22 published studies revealed a significant positive effect of exercise on total hippocampal volume. The overall effect was significant in older samples (65 years of age or older) and in interventions that lasted over 24 weeks and had less than 150 min per week of exercise. These findings suggest that moderate amounts of exercise for interventions greater than 6 months have a positive effect on hippocampal volume including in older populations vulnerable to hippocampal atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine A Wilckens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chelsea M Stillman
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aashna M Waiwood
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Chaeryon Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Regina L Leckie
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jamie C Peven
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jill E Foust
- Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Scott H Fraundorf
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kirk I Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- College of Science, Health, Engineering, and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
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8
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Islam MR, Luo R, Valaris S, Haley EB, Takase H, Chen YI, Dickerson BC, Schon K, Arai K, Nguyen CT, Wrann CD. Diffusion tensor-MRI detects exercise-induced neuroplasticity in the hippocampal microstructure in mice. Brain Plast 2020; 5:147-159. [PMID: 33282678 PMCID: PMC7685674 DOI: 10.3233/bpl-190090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite considerable research on exercise-induced neuroplasticity in the brain, a major ongoing challenge in translating findings from animal studies to humans is that clinical and preclinical settings employ very different techniques. Objective: Here we aim to bridge this divide by using diffusion tensor imaging MRI (DTI), an advanced imaging technique commonly applied in human studies, in a longitudinal exercise study with mice. Methods: Wild-type mice were exercised using voluntary free-wheel running, and MRI scans were at baseline and after four weeks and nine weeks of running. Results: Both hippocampal volume and fractional anisotropy, a surrogate for microstructural directionality, significantly increased with exercise. In addition, exercise levels correlated with effect size. Histological analysis showed more PDGFRα+ oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the corpus callosum of running mice. Conclusions: These results provide compelling in vivo support for the concept that similar adaptive changes occur in the brains of mice and humans in response to exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad R Islam
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Renhao Luo
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sophia Valaris
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erin B Haley
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hajime Takase
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Yinching Iris Chen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Bradford C Dickerson
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karin Schon
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ken Arai
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Christopher T Nguyen
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Christiane D Wrann
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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9
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Maliszewska-Cyna E, Vecchio LM, Thomason LAM, Oore JJ, Steinman J, Joo IL, Dorr A, McLaurin J, Sled JG, Stefanovic B, Aubert I. The effects of voluntary running on cerebrovascular morphology and spatial short-term memory in a mouse model of amyloidosis. Neuroimage 2020; 222:117269. [PMID: 32818618 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical activity has been correlated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline, including that associated with vascular dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD); recent literature suggests this may in part result from benefits to the cerebrovascular network. Using a transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AD, we evaluated the effect of running on cortical and hippocampal vascular morphology, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, amyloid plaque load, and spatial memory. TgCRND8 mice present with progressive amyloid pathology, advancing from the cortex to the hippocampus in a time-dependent manner. We postulated that the characteristic progression of pathology could lead to differential, time-dependent effects of physical activity on vascular morphology in these brain regions at 6 months of age. We used two-photon fluorescent microscopy and 3D vessel tracking to characterize vascular and amyloid pathology in sedentary TgCRND8 mice compared those who have a history of physical activity (unlimited access to a running wheel, from 3 to 6 months of age). In sedentary TgCRND8 mice, capillary density was found to be lower in the cortex and higher in the hippocampus compared to non-transgenic (nonTg) littermates. Capillary length, vessel branching, and non-capillary vessel tortuosity were also higher in the hippocampus of sedentary TgCRND8 compared to nonTg mice. Three months of voluntary running resulted in normalizing cortical and hippocampal microvascular morphology, with no significant difference between TgCRND8 and nonTg mice. The benefits of physical activity on cortical and hippocampal vasculature in 6-month old TgCRND8 mice were not paralleled by significant changes on parenchymal and cerebral amyloid pathology. Short-term spatial memory- as evaluated by performance in the Y-maze- was significantly improved in running compared to sedentary TgCRND8 mice. These results suggest that long-term voluntary running contributes to the maintenance of vascular morphology and spatial memory in TgCRND8 mice, even in the absence of an effect on amyloid pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Maliszewska-Cyna
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, S112, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Laura M Vecchio
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, S112, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Lynsie A M Thomason
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Canada
| | - Jonathan J Oore
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, S112, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Joe Steinman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Illsung Lewis Joo
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Canada
| | - Adrienne Dorr
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Canada
| | - JoAnne McLaurin
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, S112, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Bojana Stefanovic
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Isabelle Aubert
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, S112, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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10
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Stillman CM, Esteban-Cornejo I, Brown B, Bender CM, Erickson KI. Effects of Exercise on Brain and Cognition Across Age Groups and Health States. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:533-543. [PMID: 32409017 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Exercise has been shown to benefit brain structure and function, particularly in aging populations. However, the mechanisms by which exercise exerts its effects, especially in humans, are not fully understood. This review argues that one reason for this knowledge gap is that exercise likely operates through multiple levels of mechanisms. Furthermore, the mechanisms of exercise may vary depending on factors such as age and health state. We discuss the state of evidence at each of three levels of analysis (molecular/cellular, brain structure/function, and mental states and higher-order behaviors) and highlight consistencies across these levels, inconsistencies within them, and knowledge gaps. Lastly, based on these, we speculate about which mechanisms of exercise may be universal across age groups and populations versus those that might be distinct to specific age ranges or populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irene Esteban-Cornejo
- PROFITH 'PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity' Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Belinda Brown
- College of Science, Health, Engineering, and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Kirk I Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; College of Science, Health, Engineering, and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
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11
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Abstract
There are vast literatures on the neural effects of alcohol and the neural effects of exercise. Simply put, exercise is associated with brain health, alcohol is not, and the mechanisms by which exercise benefits the brain directly counteract the mechanisms by which alcohol damages it. Although a degree of brain recovery naturally occurs upon cessation of alcohol consumption, effective treatments for alcohol-induced brain damage are badly needed, and exercise is an excellent candidate from a mechanistic standpoint. In this chapter, we cover the small but growing literature on the interactive neural effects of alcohol and exercise, and the capacity of exercise to repair alcohol-induced brain damage. Increasingly, exercise is being used as a component of treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUD), not because it reverses alcohol-induced brain damage, but because it represents a rewarding, alcohol-free activity that could reduce alcohol cravings and improve comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression. It is important to bear in mind, however, that multiple studies attest to a counterintuitive positive relationship between alcohol intake and exercise. We therefore conclude with cautionary notes regarding the use of exercise to repair the brain after alcohol damage.
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12
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Barnett BR, Anderson JM, Torres-Velázquez M, Yi SY, Rowley PA, Yu JPJ. Exercise ameliorates deficits in neural microstructure in a Disc1 model of psychiatric illness. Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 61:90-96. [PMID: 31103832 PMCID: PMC6663582 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have investigated the effectiveness of aerobic exercise to improve physical and mental health outcomes in schizophrenia; however, few have explicitly explored the impact of aerobic exercise on neural microstructure, which is hypothesized to mediate the behavioral changes observed. Neural microstructure is influenced by numerous genetic factors including DISC1, which is a major molecular scaffold protein that interacts with partners like GSK3β, NDEL1, and PDE4. DISC1 has been shown to play a role in neurogenesis, neuronal migration, neuronal maturation, and synaptic signaling. As with other genetic variants that present an increased risk for disease, mutations of the DISC1 gene have been implicated in the molecular intersection of schizophrenia and numerous other major psychiatric illnesses. This study investigated whether short-term exercise recovers deficits in neural microstructure in a novel genetic Disc1 svΔ2 rat model. Disc1 svΔ2 animals and age- and sex-matched controls were subjected to a treadmill exercise protocol. Subsequent ex-vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) compared neural microstructure in regions of interest (ROI) between sedentary and exercise wild-type animals and between sedentary and exercise Disc1 svΔ2 animals. Short-term exercise uncovered no significant differences in neural microstructure between sedentary and exercise control animals but did lead to significant differences between sedentary and exercise Disc1 svΔ2 animals in neocortex, basal ganglia, corpus callosum, and external capsule, suggesting a positive benefit derived from a short-term exercise regimen. Our findings suggest that Disc1 svΔ2 animals are more sensitive to the effects of short-term exercise and highlight the ameliorating potential of positive treatment interventions such as exercise on neural microstructure in genetic backgrounds of psychiatric disease susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Barnett
- Neuroscience Training Program, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Anderson
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Maribel Torres-Velázquez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sue Y Yi
- Neuroscience Training Program, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Paul A Rowley
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - John-Paul J Yu
- Neuroscience Training Program, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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13
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Maurus I, Hasan A, Röh A, Takahashi S, Rauchmann B, Keeser D, Malchow B, Schmitt A, Falkai P. Neurobiological effects of aerobic exercise, with a focus on patients with schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 269:499-515. [PMID: 31115660 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-019-01025-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disease that is associated with neurobiological alterations in multiple brain regions and peripheral organs. Negative symptoms and cognitive deficits are present in about half of patients and are difficult to treat, leading to an unfavorable functional outcome. To investigate the impact of aerobic exercise on various neurobiological parameters, we conducted a narrative review. Add-on aerobic exercise was shown to be effective in improving negative and general symptoms, cognition, global functioning, and quality of life in schizophrenia patients. Based on findings in healthy individuals and animal models, this qualitative review gives an overview of different lines of evidence on how aerobic exercise impacts brain structure and function and molecular mechanisms in patients with schizophrenia and how its effects could be related to clinical and functional outcomes. Structural magnetic resonance imaging studies showed a volume increase in the hippocampus and cortical regions in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls after endurance training. However, results are inconsistent and individual risk factors may influence neuroplastic processes. Animal studies indicate that alterations in epigenetic mechanisms and synaptic plasticity are possible underlying mechanisms, but that differentiation of glial cells, angiogenesis, and possibly neurogenesis may also be involved. Clinical and animal studies also revealed effects of aerobic exercise on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, growth factors, and immune-related mechanisms. Some findings indicate effects on neurotransmitters and the endocannabinoid system. Further research is required to clarify how individual risk factors in schizophrenia patients mediate or moderate the neurobiological effects of exercise on brain and cognition. Altogether, aerobic exercise is a promising candidate in the search for pathophysiology-based add-on interventions in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Maurus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Astrid Röh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Shun Takahashi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Boris Rauchmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Keeser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Berend Malchow
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Andrea Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM27), Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
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14
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Bento-Torres J, Bento-Torres NVO, Stillman CM, Grove GA, Huang H, Uyar F, Watt JC, Wollam ME, Erickson KI. Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, intraindividual variability in behavior, and cingulate cortex in younger adults. JOURNAL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2019; 8:315-324. [PMID: 31333884 PMCID: PMC6620364 DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and greater amounts of physical activity have been associated with lower intraindividual variability (IIV) in executive function in children and older adults. In the present study, we examined whether CRF, measured as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and daily volume of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) were associated with IIV of reaction time during performance of the incongruent condition of the Stroop task in younger adults. Further, we examined whether the thickness of the cingulate cortex was associated with regulating variability in reaction time performance in the context of CRF or physical activity. METHODS CRF (measured as VO2max), accelerometry-measured MVPA, Stroop performance, and thickness of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) derived from magnetic resonance imaging data were collected in 48 younger adults (age = 24.58 ± 4.95 years, mean ± SD). Multiple regression was used to test associations between IIV during the Stroop task and CRF, MVPA, and rACC thickness. Mediation was tested using maximum likelihood estimation with bootstrapping. RESULTS Consistent with our predictions, higher VO2max was associated with greater rACC thickness for the right hemisphere and greater daily amounts of MVPA were associated with greater rACC thickness for both the left and right hemispheres. Greater thickness of the right rACC was associated with lower IIV for the incongruent condition of the Stroop task. CRF and MVPA were not directly associated with IIV. However, we did find that IIV and both CRF and MVPA were indirectly associated via the thickness of the right rACC. CONCLUSION These results indicate that higher CRF and greater daily volume of MVPA may be associated with lower IIV during the Stroop task via structural integrity of the rACC. Randomized controlled trials of MVPA would provide crucial information about the causal relations between these variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Bento-Torres
- Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará 66075-110, Brazil
| | | | - Chelsea M. Stillman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - George A. Grove
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Haiqing Huang
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Fatma Uyar
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Jennifer C. Watt
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Mariegold E. Wollam
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kirk I. Erickson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Corresponding author.
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15
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Central nervous system targeted autoimmunity causes regional atrophy: a 9.4T MRI study of the EAE mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8488. [PMID: 31186441 PMCID: PMC6560061 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44682-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrophy has become a clinically relevant marker of progressive neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). To better understand atrophy, mouse models that feature atrophy along with other aspects of MS are needed. The experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS was used to determine the extent of atrophy in a model of inflammation-associated central nervous system pathology. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and atlas-based volumetric analysis were performed to measure brain regional volumes in EAE mice. EAE brains were larger at peak clinical disease (days 14–16) compared to controls, with affected regions including the cerebellum, hippocampus, and corpus callosum. Following peak clinical disease, EAE mice exhibited significant loss of volume at chronic long-term disease duration (day 66+). Atrophy was identified in both white and grey matter regions including the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, corpus callosum, basal forebrain, midbrain, optic tract, and colliculus. Histological analysis of the atrophied cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus showed demyelination, and axonal/neuronal loss. We hypothesize this atrophy could be a result of inflammatory associated neurodegenerative processes, which may also be involved in MS. Using MRI and atlas-based volumetrics, EAE has the potential to be a test bed for treatments aimed at reducing progressive neurological deterioration in MS.
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16
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Jardí F, Laurent MR, Dubois V, Kim N, Khalil R, Decallonne B, Vanderschueren D, Claessens F. Androgen and estrogen actions on male physical activity: a story beyond muscle. J Endocrinol 2018; 238:R31-R52. [PMID: 29743340 DOI: 10.1530/joe-18-0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Physical inactivity is a pandemic that contributes to several chronic diseases and poses a significant burden on health care systems worldwide. The search for effective strategies to combat sedentary behavior has led to an intensification of the research efforts to unravel the biological substrate controlling activity. A wide body of preclinical evidence makes a strong case for sex steroids regulating physical activity in both genders, albeit the mechanisms implicated remain unclear. The beneficial effects of androgens on muscle as well as on other peripheral functions might play a role in favoring adaptation to exercise. Alternatively or in addition, sex steroids could act on specific brain circuitries to boost physical activity. This review critically discusses the evidence supporting a role for androgens and estrogens stimulating male physical activity, with special emphasis on the possible role of peripheral and/or central mechanisms. Finally, the potential translation of these findings to humans is briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferran Jardí
- Clinical and Experimental EndocrinologyDepartment of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing (CHROMETA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michaël R Laurent
- Molecular Endocrinology LaboratoryDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Gerontology and GeriatricsDepartment of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing (CHROMETA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vanessa Dubois
- Molecular Endocrinology LaboratoryDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nari Kim
- Clinical and Experimental EndocrinologyDepartment of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing (CHROMETA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rougin Khalil
- Clinical and Experimental EndocrinologyDepartment of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing (CHROMETA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Brigitte Decallonne
- Clinical and Experimental EndocrinologyDepartment of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing (CHROMETA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk Vanderschueren
- Clinical and Experimental EndocrinologyDepartment of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing (CHROMETA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank Claessens
- Molecular Endocrinology LaboratoryDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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17
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Yee Y, Fernandes DJ, French L, Ellegood J, Cahill LS, Vousden DA, Spencer Noakes L, Scholz J, van Eede MC, Nieman BJ, Sled JG, Lerch JP. Structural covariance of brain region volumes is associated with both structural connectivity and transcriptomic similarity. Neuroimage 2018; 179:357-372. [PMID: 29782994 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An organizational pattern seen in the brain, termed structural covariance, is the statistical association of pairs of brain regions in their anatomical properties. These associations, measured across a population as covariances or correlations usually in cortical thickness or volume, are thought to reflect genetic and environmental underpinnings. Here, we examine the biological basis of structural volume covariance in the mouse brain. We first examined large scale associations between brain region volumes using an atlas-based approach that parcellated the entire mouse brain into 318 regions over which correlations in volume were assessed, for volumes obtained from 153 mouse brain images via high-resolution MRI. We then used a seed-based approach and determined, for 108 different seed regions across the brain and using mouse gene expression and connectivity data from the Allen Institute for Brain Science, the variation in structural covariance data that could be explained by distance to seed, transcriptomic similarity to seed, and connectivity to seed. We found that overall, correlations in structure volumes hierarchically clustered into distinct anatomical systems, similar to findings from other studies and similar to other types of networks in the brain, including structural connectivity and transcriptomic similarity networks. Across seeds, this structural covariance was significantly explained by distance (17% of the variation, up to a maximum of 49% for structural covariance to the visceral area of the cortex), transcriptomic similarity (13% of the variation, up to maximum of 28% for structural covariance to the primary visual area) and connectivity (15% of the variation, up to a maximum of 36% for structural covariance to the intermediate reticular nucleus in the medulla) of covarying structures. Together, distance, connectivity, and transcriptomic similarity explained 37% of structural covariance, up to a maximum of 63% for structural covariance to the visceral area. Additionally, this pattern of explained variation differed spatially across the brain, with transcriptomic similarity playing a larger role in the cortex than subcortex, while connectivity explains structural covariance best in parts of the cortex, midbrain, and hindbrain. These results suggest that both gene expression and connectivity underlie structural volume covariance, albeit to different extents depending on brain region, and this relationship is modulated by distance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohan Yee
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Darren J Fernandes
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leon French
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dulcie A Vousden
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jan Scholz
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthijs C van Eede
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian J Nieman
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Repairing the brain with physical exercise: Cortical thickness and brain volume increases in long-term pediatric brain tumor survivors in response to a structured exercise intervention. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 18:972-985. [PMID: 29876282 PMCID: PMC5987848 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that exercise induced experience dependent plasticity may foster structural and functional recovery following brain injury. We examined the efficacy of exercise training for neural and cognitive recovery in long-term pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with radiation. We conducted a controlled clinical trial with crossover of exercise training (vs. no training) in a volunteer sample of 28 children treated with cranial radiation for brain tumors (mean age = 11.5 yrs.; mean time since diagnosis = 5.7 yrs). The endpoints were anatomical T1 MRI data and multiple behavioral outcomes presenting a broader analysis of structural MRI data across the entire brain. This included an analysis of changes in cortical thickness and brain volume using automated, user unbiased approaches. A series of general linear mixed effects models evaluating the effects of exercise training on cortical thickness were performed in a voxel and vertex-wise manner, as well as for specific regions of interest. In exploratory analyses, we evaluated the relationship between changes in cortical thickness after exercise with multiple behavioral outcomes, as well as the relation of these measures at baseline. Exercise was associated with increases in cortical thickness within the right pre and postcentral gyri. Other notable areas of increased thickness related to training were present in the left pre and postcentral gyri, left temporal pole, left superior temporal gyrus, and left parahippocampal gyrus. Further, we observed that compared to a separate cohort of healthy children, participants displayed multiple areas with a significantly thinner cortex prior to training and fewer differences following training, indicating amelioration of anatomical deficits. Partial least squares analysis (PLS) revealed specific patterns of relations between cortical thickness and various behavioral outcomes both after training and at baseline. Overall, our results indicate that exercise training in pediatric brain tumor patients treated with radiation has a beneficial impact on brain structure. We argue that exercise training should be incorporated into the development of neuro-rehabilitative treatments for long-term pediatric brain tumor survivors and other populations with acquired brain injury. (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01944761) Exercise training in pediatric brain tumor patients treated with radiation results in changes in brain structure Exercise was associated with increased cortical thickness in several areas including motor and somatosensory cortex Fewer differences between patients and healthy controls in cortical thickness were seen following exercise training Specific patterns of relations between cortical thickness and behavior at a baseline and after exercise training were seen
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19
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Rosenfeld CS. Sex-dependent differences in voluntary physical activity. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:279-290. [PMID: 27870424 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Numbers of overweight and obese individuals are increasing in the United States and globally, and, correspondingly, the associated health care costs are rising dramatically. More than one-third of children are currently considered obese with a predisposition to type 2 diabetes, and it is likely that their metabolic conditions will worsen with age. Physical inactivity has also risen to be the leading cause of many chronic, noncommunicable diseases (NCD). Children are more physically inactive now than they were in past decades, which may be due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In rodents, the amount of time engaged in spontaneous activity within the home cage is a strong predictor of later adiposity and weight gain. Thus, it is important to understand primary motivators stimulating physical activity (PA). There are normal sex differences in PA levels in rodents and humans. The perinatal environment can induce sex-dependent differences in PA disturbances. This Review considers the current evidence for sex differences in PA in rodents and humans. The rodent studies showing that early exposure to environmental chemicals can shape later adult PA responses are discussed. Next, whether there are different motivators stimulating exercise in male vs. female humans are examined. Finally, the brain regions, genes, and pathways that modulate PA in rodents, and possibly by translation in humans, are described. A better understanding of why each sex remains physically active through the life span could open new avenues for preventing and treating obesity in children and adults. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Bond Life Sciences Center University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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20
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Spatial gene expression analysis of neuroanatomical differences in mouse models. Neuroimage 2017; 163:220-230. [PMID: 28882630 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.08.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MRI is a powerful modality to detect neuroanatomical differences that result from mutations and treatments. Knowing which genes drive these differences is important in understanding etiology, but candidate genes are often difficult to identify. We tested whether spatial gene expression data from the Allen Brain Institute can be used to inform us about genes that cause neuroanatomical differences. For many single-gene-mutation mouse models, we found that affected neuroanatomy was not strongly associated with the spatial expression of the altered gene and there are specific caveats for each model. However, among models with significant neuroanatomical differences from their wildtype controls, the mutated genes had preferential spatial expression in affected neuroanatomy. In mice exposed to environmental enrichment, candidate genes could be identified by a genome-wide search for genes with preferential spatial expression in the altered neuroanatomical regions. These candidates have functions related to learning and plasticity. We demonstrate that spatial gene expression of single-genes is a poor predictor of altered neuroanatomy, but altered neuroanatomy can identify candidate genes responsible for neuroanatomical phenotypes.
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21
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Cahill LS, Bishop J, Gazdzinski LM, Dorr A, Stefanovic B, Sled JG. Altered cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular function after voluntary exercise in adult mice. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 222:3395-3405. [PMID: 28391400 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1409-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The beneficial effects of physical exercise on brain health are well documented, yet how exercise modulates cerebrovascular function is not well understood. This study used continuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging with a hypercapnic challenge to examine changes in cerebral blood flow and vascular function after voluntary exercise in healthy, adult mice. Thirty exercise mice and twenty-one control mice were imaged prior to the start of the exercise regime (at 12 weeks of age) and after 4 weeks of voluntary exercise. After the second in vivo imaging session, we performed high-resolution ex vivo anatomical brain imaging to correlate the structural brain changes with functional measures of flow and vascular reserve. We found that exercise resulted in increases in the normocapnic and hypercapnic blood flow in the hippocampus. Moreover, the change in normocapnic blood flow between pre-exercise and post-exercise was positively correlated to the hippocampal structure volume following exercise. There was no overall effect of voluntary exercise on blood flow in the motor cortex. Surprisingly, the hypercapnic hippocampal blood flow when measured prior to the start of exercise was predictive of subsequent exercise activity. Moreover, exercise was found to normalize this pre-existing difference in hypercapnic blood flow between mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay S Cahill
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 2H7, Canada.
| | - Jonathan Bishop
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 2H7, Canada
| | - Lisa M Gazdzinski
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 2H7, Canada
| | | | - Bojana Stefanovic
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 2H7, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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22
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Dorr A, Thomason LA, Koletar MM, Joo IL, Steinman J, Cahill LS, Sled JG, Stefanovic B. Effects of voluntary exercise on structure and function of cortical microvasculature. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2017; 37:1046-1059. [PMID: 27683451 PMCID: PMC5363487 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x16669514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic activity has been shown highly beneficial to brain health, yet much uncertainty still surrounds the effects of exercise on the functioning of cerebral microvasculature. This study used two-photon fluorescence microscopy to examine cerebral hemodynamic alterations as well as accompanying geometric changes in the cortical microvascular network following five weeks of voluntary exercise in transgenic mice endogenously expressing tdTomato in vascular endothelial cells to allow visualization of microvessels irrespective of their perfusion levels. We found a diminished microvascular response to a hypercapnic challenge (10% FiCO2) in running mice when compared to that in nonrunning controls despite commensurate increases in transcutaneous CO2 tension. The flow increase to hypercapnia in runners was 70% lower than that in nonrunners (p = 0.0070) and the runners' arteriolar red blood cell speed changed by only half the amount seen in nonrunners (p = 0.0085). No changes were seen in resting hemodynamics or in the systemic physiological parameters measured. Although a few unperfused new vessels were observed on visual inspection, running did not produce significant morphological differences in the microvascular morphometric parameters, quantified following semiautomated tracking of the microvascular networks. We propose that voluntary running led to increased cortical microvascular efficiency and desensitization to CO2 elevation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Illsung L Joo
- 1 Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,2 Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Joe Steinman
- 2 Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,3 Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- 3 Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- 2 Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,3 Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Bojana Stefanovic
- 1 Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,2 Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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23
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Avivi-Arber L, Seltzer Z, Friedel M, Lerch JP, Moayedi M, Davis KD, Sessle BJ. Widespread Volumetric Brain Changes following Tooth Loss in Female Mice. Front Neuroanat 2017; 10:121. [PMID: 28119577 PMCID: PMC5220047 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2016.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tooth loss is associated with altered sensory, motor, cognitive and emotional functions. These changes vary highly in the population and are accompanied by structural and functional changes in brain regions mediating these functions. It is unclear to what extent this variability in behavior and function is caused by genetic and/or environmental determinants and which brain regions undergo structural plasticity that mediates these changes. Thus, the overall goal of our research program is to identify genetic variants that control structural and functional plasticity following tooth loss. As a step toward this goal, here our aim was to determine whether structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) is sensitive to detect quantifiable volumetric differences in the brains of mice of different genetic background receiving tooth extraction or sham operation. We used 67 adult female mice of 7 strains, comprising the A/J (A) and C57BL/6J (B) strains and a randomly selected sample of 5 of the 23 AXB-BXA strains (AXB1, AXB4, AXB24, BXA14, BXA24) that were produced from the A and B parental mice by recombinations and inbreeding. This panel of 25 inbred strains of genetically diverse inbred strains of mice is used for mapping chromosomal intervals throughout the genome that harbor candidate genes controlling the phenotypic variance of any trait under study. Under general anesthesia, 39 mice received extraction of 3 right maxillary molar teeth and 28 mice received sham operation. On post-extraction day 21, post-mortem whole-brain high-resolution sMRI was used to quantify the volume of 160 brain regions. Compared to sham operation, tooth extraction was associated with a significantly reduced regional and voxel-wise volumes of cortical brain regions involved in processing somatosensory, motor, cognitive and emotional functions, and increased volumes in subcortical sensorimotor and temporal limbic forebrain regions including the amygdala. Additionally, comparison of the 10 BXA14 and 21 BXA24 mice revealed significant volumetric differences between the two strains in several brain regions. These findings highlight the utility of high-resolution sMRI for studying tooth loss-induced structural brain plasticity in mice, and provide a foundation for further phenotyping structural brain changes following tooth loss in the full AXB-BXA panel to facilitate mapping genes that control brain plasticity following orofacial injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limor Avivi-Arber
- University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ze'ev Seltzer
- University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Health NetworkToronto, ON, Canada
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of HeidelbergMannheim, Germany
| | - Miriam Friedel
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jason P. Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto, ON, Canada
- Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
| | - Massieh Moayedi
- University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karen D. Davis
- University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Brain, Imaging and Behaviour - Systems Neuroscience, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health NetworkToronto, ON, Canada
| | - Barry J. Sessle
- University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
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Tardif CL, Gauthier CJ, Steele CJ, Bazin PL, Schäfer A, Schaefer A, Turner R, Villringer A. Advanced MRI techniques to improve our understanding of experience-induced neuroplasticity. Neuroimage 2016; 131:55-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.08.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Revised: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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25
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Taubert M, Villringer A, Lehmann N. Endurance Exercise as an "Endogenous" Neuro-enhancement Strategy to Facilitate Motor Learning. Front Hum Neurosci 2015; 9:692. [PMID: 26834602 PMCID: PMC4714627 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endurance exercise improves cardiovascular and musculoskeletal function and may also increase the information processing capacities of the brain. Animal and human research from the past decade demonstrated widespread exercise effects on brain structure and function at the systems-, cellular-, and molecular level of brain organization. These neurobiological mechanisms may explain the well-established positive influence of exercise on performance in various behavioral domains but also its contribution to improved skill learning and neuroplasticity. With respect to the latter, only few empirical and theoretical studies are available to date. The aim of this review is (i) to summarize the existing neurobiological and behavioral evidence arguing for endurance exercise-induced improvements in motor learning and (ii) to develop hypotheses about the mechanistic link between exercise and improved learning. We identify major knowledge gaps that need to be addressed by future research projects to advance our understanding of how exercise should be organized to optimize motor learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Taubert
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, LeipzigGermany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, LeipzigGermany
| | - Nico Lehmann
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig Germany
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