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Accelerated Fear Extinction by Regular Light-Intensity Exercise: A Possible Role of Hippocampal BDNF-TrkB Signaling.
Accelerated Fear Extinction by Regular Light-Intensity Exercise: A Possible Role of Hippocampal BDNF-TrkB Signaling.
- Source :
-
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise . Feb2024, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p221-229. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Purpose: Growing concern exists worldwide about stress-related mental disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often linked to hippocampal dysfunctions. Recognizing this connection, regular light-intensity exercise (LIE)—such as yoga, walking, or slow jogging—may offer a solution. Easily accessible even to vulnerable individuals, LIE has been found to enhance hippocampus-based cognitive functions through the stimulation of neurotrophic factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A prior study that demonstrated BDNF's role in extinguishing original fear memory further leads us to propose that a consistent LIE training might drive fear extinction learning, offering potential therapeutic benefits through BDNF signaling. Methods: Eleven-week-old Wistar rats underwent 4 wk of training under conditions of sedentary, LIE, or moderate-intensity exercise (MOE) after contextual or auditory fear conditioning. Subsequently, fear extinction tests were performed. We then administered intraperitoneal (i.p.) ANA-12, a selective antagonist of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), or a vehicle to explore the role of BDNF signaling in exercise-induced fear extinction among the LIE rats. Following the regular exercise training, further fear extinction tests were conducted, and hippocampal protein analysis was performed using Western blotting. Results: Both LIE and MOE over 4 wk accelerated hippocampus-associated contextual fear extinction compared with sedentary. In addition, 4 wk of LIE with i.p. administered vehicle increased hippocampal BDNF and TrkB protein levels. In contrast, i.p. ANA-12 administration fully blocked the LIE-enhanced protein levels and its effect on contextual fear extinction. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that LIE regimen promotes fear extinction learning, at least partially tied to hippocampal BDNF-TrkB signaling. This suggests that even regular light exercise could alleviate the excessive fear response in anxiety disorders and PTSD, providing hope for those affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01959131
- Volume :
- 56
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 175410520
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003312