Amelioration of Chronic Ethanol Administration-Induced Learning and Memory Impairments by High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Ritalin

Objectives

The current study aimed to investigate the impacts of 8-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and Ritalin (RIT), alone and in combination, on cognitive functions and hippocampal oxidative parameters following chronic ethanol consumption in male rats.

Methods

A total of 56 adult male rats were divided into 8 groups and received one of the following treatments: ethanol 20% (ET) (3 mL/kg/day, orally, 5 consecutive days/week in weeks 1–4, and 3 consecutive days/week in weeks 4–8), RIT (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, three consecutive times/week for 8 weeks), HIIT + SAL (five consecutive times/week for 8 weeks + saline injection), or saline (1 mL/day, intraperitoneally, three consecutive times/week for 8 weeks). Cognitive performance was assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance tasks. Oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were measured in the hippocampus using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and ferric reduction antioxidant power (FRAP). Nitric oxide (NO) level in the hippocampus was determined using an NO Assay Kit (Natrix, Arman Biotech, Iran).

Results

Chronic ethanol administration impaired cognitive functions. However, RIT, HIIT, and their combination significantly improved these impairments. Furthermore, RIT increased ethanol-induced oxidative stress, whereas HIIT reduced it, even in the combination group.

Conclusion

Chronic ethanol consumption caused learning and memory deficits and disrupted oxidant/antioxidant balance in the hippocampus of rats. HIIT potentially improved memory impairments by restoring this balance, whereas RIT ameliorated cognitive dysfunction through a mechanism that requires further investigation.