Elham Azizi; Esmail Nasiri; Maryam Khalesi
Abstract
Introduction: Sports activities can protect the brain and improve its function. However, the lack of time is one of the primary reasons for not participating in the recommended amount of sports activities. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) ...
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Introduction: Sports activities can protect the brain and improve its function. However, the lack of time is one of the primary reasons for not participating in the recommended amount of sports activities. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) on hippocampal nerve growth factor (NGF) levels, learning, and spatial memory in adult male rats.Methods: For this, 16 male Wistar rats were divided into two equal groups (control and SIT). The SIT protocol consisted of eight weeks of running on the treadmill (three sessions per week, 4-9 repetitions of 10 seconds sprints, and 1 min rest between repetitions). At the end of the eighth week, the rats’ cognitive performance was evaluated using the shuttle box and Y-maze avoidance tests. Finally, rats were anesthetized and the hippocampus was removed and NGF levels were measured.Results: The findings showed that in the SIT group, the hippocampal NGF levels were significantly higher than the control group (p=0.001). Moreover, rats in the SIT group had better performance in the shuttle box and Y-maze avoidance tests than the control group, but the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05).Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it seems that SIT (with 10 seconds repetitions) can increase the hippocampal NGF levels, though, to improve our knowledge about its effect on cognitive performance, more studies are needed
Tahmineh Karbalaee Sadeghi; Morteza Taheri; Khadijeh Irandoust
Abstract
Introduction: Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is the growth of cancerous masses in the colon. According to research evidence, the use of antioxidants and regular exercise are the best ways to prevent and treat many diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of intermittent ...
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Introduction: Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is the growth of cancerous masses in the colon. According to research evidence, the use of antioxidants and regular exercise are the best ways to prevent and treat many diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of intermittent exercise and Quercetin consumption on the brain-derived neurogenic factor (BDNF) and cyclic-adenosine monophosphate responsive element-binding protein (CREB) in the brain hippocampus of rats with colon cancer which has many influences on cognitive functions.Methods: The subjects of this study included 50 male Wistar rats (weight: 250±30 grams, age: 12 weeks) which were homogenized by weight and were randomly divided into five Healthy Control, Cancer Control, Cancer + Quercetin supplement, Cancer + Intermittent exercise, Cancer + Quercetin supplement + Intermittent exercise groups (10 rats in each group). BDNF and CREB measurements were performed in the rats’ hippocampus according to the ELISA standards and method. SPSS software was used for data analysis.Results: The results showed that eight weeks of intermittent exercises had a significant effect on the mean score of BDNF (p = 0.047) and CREB (p = 0.032) in rats’ hippocampus with colon cancer. Eight weeks of Quercetin supplementation had no significant effect on the mean BDNF score (p = 0.792) and the mean CREB score (p = 0.363) in rats’ hippocampus with colon cancer Conclusion: In general, the findings showed that intermittent exercise and Quercetin supplementation improve BDNF and CREB in the hippocampus of rats with colon cancer.
