Research articles
ScienceAsia 49 (2023): 934-938 |doi:
10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2023.097
The enhancing effect of peripheral physical activity on spatial
memory by elevating central neurotrophic factor and synaptic
plasticity-related proteins in the hippocampus of adolescent
rats
Pornprom Surakula, Sukonthar NgampramuanAb,*
ABSTRACT: Investigation of spatial memory entails studying the process for encoding and retrieving spatial information
in working memory that is required for animal and human survival. Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus is necessary
for working memory. Activity stimulates the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and subsequently increases
NR2A or NR2B subunits of NMDAR-enabling synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Reduction of NMDAR and the
postsynaptic density (PSD)-95 protein can be found in learning and memory impairment. An increasing amount of
evidence has shown that peripheral physical activity has an enhancing effect on learning and memory and elevates the
expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, the mechanisms of physical activity that improve
working memory have not been fully understood. In the current study, we study the potential effects of peripheral
physical activity on spatial memory and synaptic plasticity-related proteins. Physical activity was performed by having
the rats do voluntary wheel running throughout P25?P40. The Morris water maze task was performed on P40 for 6 days
to study spatial memory. The hippocampal protein expression was ascertained by Western blot analysis. We found that
physical activity enhanced spatial memory and BDNF, PSD-95, NR2A, and NR2B levels in the hippocampus. Physical
activity can be effective in improving the central synaptic plasticity-related proteins that are essential for learning and
memory. Peripheral physical activity is a promising candidate for further investigation as a potential treatment for
learning and memory impairment.
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| a |
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131 Thailand |
| b |
Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170
Thailand |
* Corresponding author, E-mail: sukonthar.nga@mahidol.ac.th
Received 2 Aug 2022, Accepted 22 Sep 2023
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