The Effect of Aerobic Training before Alzheimer’s Induction on the Expression of Calcineurin and Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase II Gene in the Hippocampus of Rats with Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Background and Objectives Regular aerobic exercise improves learning, memory, and cognitive and Synaptic Plasticity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of calcineurin and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II mRNA after four weeks of aerobic training exercises and before AD induction in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats. Subjects and Methods Thirty 8-week-old rats with an average weight of 195±20 g were initially randomly divided into two groups of aerobic exercise or rest for four weeks. Then, each group was divided into three groups of AD, sham, and injection. Then, 48 hours after the last training session, Aβ1-42, or DMSO was injected into the hippocampus. Finally, after the isolation of the hippocampus, CaN mRNA and CaMKII mRNA levels were measured. Results The results of this study showed that there was a significant difference between the groups in mRNA CaN and CaMKII mRNA levels (P<0.05). The results showed that aerobic exercise and AD pre-induction had a significant effect on increasing calcineurin and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II levels. Conclusion Overall, the findings of the present study showed that four weeks of aerobic training improves the molecular signaling of neuroplasticity in AD rats.