Impact of exercise on neuroplasticity-related proteins in spinal cord injured humans

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.03.037

Neuroscience

Volume 153, Issue 4, 2 June 2008, Pages 1064-1070

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.03.037 Get rights and content

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of exercise on the serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), prolactin (PRL) and cortisol (COR) in 11 chronically spinal cord–injured athletes. In these subjects BDNF concentration at rest was sixfold higher compared with the concentrations reported earlier in able-bodied persons, while IGF-1, PRL and COR were within normal range. Ten minutes of moderate intensity handbiking (54% of the maximal heart rate) during a warm-up period (W) induced an increase (P<0.05) of BDNF of approximately 1.5-fold from basal level at rest, while a decrease to basal level was found after an immediately succeeding handbiking time trial (89% of the maximal heart rate) over the marathon distance of 42 km (M). An increase (P<0.01) of serum IGF-1 was found after W and this levels remained elevated (P<0.01) until the end of M. W had no significant effects on the serum PRL and COR, however, M induced an increase (P<0.01) of both hormones. This is the first study showing elevated BDNF concentrations at rest in spinal cord–injured athletes. Furthermore, short moderate intensity handbiking but not immediately following long lasting high intensity handbiking further increases serum BDNF concentrations. IGF-1 response to exercise differs to BDNF response as this neuroplasticity-related protein remains elevated during the long lasting physical demand with high intensity. The augmented PRL concentration suggests that a possible mechanism by which exercise promotes neuroplasticity might be the activation of neural serotonergic pathways as 5-HT is the main PRL releasing factor. Elevated COR concentrations after M are unlikely to be deleterious to neuroplasticity as COR concentrations remain within the physiological range. The present study suggests that exercise might be beneficial to enhance neuroprotection and neuroplasticity, thereby improving recovery after spinal cord injury.

Section snippets

Subjects

Eleven male paraplegic elite athletes (age: 40.6±6.3 years; height: 174.5±21.6 cm; weight: 75.3±11 kg) with a SCI (spinal lesion level T₄–T₁₂; ASIA A and B according to the American Spinal Injury Association) (Maynard et al., 1997) were recruited for the study. All experiments were approved by the local ethics committee and were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The subjects were informed about the aim of the study and received written detailed explanation about all

Results

During the incremental exercise test to exhaustion maximum values reached by the subjects were for power output 158.2±28.9 W, for HR 183±11.8 b/min, for VO₂ 34.5±9.2 ml/kg/min and for RPE 19.5±1.2. During W the athletes worked at 54.4% of their maximal HR. During M the subjects cycled at an average HR of 163±18 b/min and at an average VO₂ of 25.5±5.9 ml/kg/min. The values of LA and HR at R as well as at the end of W and M are shown in Table 1. The average exercise time for M was 85±23 min.

BDNF

Discussion

Basal serum BDNF values reported for healthy AB humans (Table 2) vary between studies reflecting methodological differences in analysis as well as interindividual variances (Karege et al., 2002). However, in comparison with our own study using identical analytical methods basal BDNF concentrations in SCI athletes were about sixfold higher than in AB athletes. Under physiological conditions, BDNF of the CNS is expressed primarily by neurons. In the periphery, BDNF is synthesized by a variety of

Conclusion

In summary, this is the first study showing that (1) BDNF concentrations at rest are elevated in spinal cord injured athletes, (2) short moderate intensity exercise but not immediately following long lasting high intensity exercise increases serum BDNF concentrations, and (3) IGF-1 response to exercise differs to BDNF response as this neuroplasticity-related protein remains elevated during the long lasting high intensity exercise. For a more precise investigation of the effect of exercise

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Clinical neuroscienceImpact of exercise on neuroplasticity-related proteins in spinal cord injured humans

Abstract

Section snippets

Subjects

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Mol Cell Neurosci

Neuroscience

Neuron

Trends Neurosci

Biol Psychiatry

Neuroscience

Mol Brain Res

J Neuroimmunol

Neuroscience

Exp Neurol

Neuroscience

Neurosci Lett

Neuron

Neuropharmacology

Brain Res

Neuropsychopharmacology

Am J Med Sci

Psychiatry Res

Exp Neurol

Peripheral infusion of IGF-I selectively induces neurogenesis in the adult rat hippocampus

J Neurosci

Insulin-like growth factor 1 is a differentiation factor for postmitotic stem cell-derived neuronal precursors: distinct actions from those of brain derived neurotrophic factor

J Neurosci

Exercise induced changes in insulin-like growth factors and their low molecular weight binding protein in healthy subjects and patients with growth hormone deficiency

Eur J Clin Invest

Blunted hormone response to intravenous arginine in subjects with spinal cord injury

Horm Metab Res

Provocative stimulation of growth hormone: a monozygotic twin study discordant for spinal cord injury

J Spinal Cord Med

Perceived exertion as indicator of somatic stress

Scand J Rehabil Med

Circulating insulin-like growth factor mediates effects of exercise on the brain

J Neurosci

Glucocorticoids depress activity-dependent expression of BDNF mRNA in hippocampal neurones

Neuroreport

Serotonin and neuronal growth factors — a convergence of signaling pathways

J Neurochem

Clinical neuroscience
Impact of exercise on neuroplasticity-related proteins in spinal cord injured humans