Maryam Akbari-Fakhrabadi1, Mohammad Najafi2, Soudabehsadat Mortazavian1, Amir-Hossein Memari1, Farzad Shidfar3, Ali Shahbazi4,5, Javad Heshmati6. 1. Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 6. Department of Nutritional Sciences and Food Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that combined approaches based on exercise and nutrition benefit neural development. We aimed to determine the effect of saffron and endurance training on hippocampus neurogenic factors, neurotrophin-3 gene expression in soleus muscle, and short-term memory in Wistar rats. METHODS: The study analyzed four groups of ten rats each: control, exercise, saffron, and saffron plus exercise. The rats in the exercise groups were trained on a rodent motor-driven treadmill. All rats were gavage daily with either saffron extract (40 mg/kg) or water. After eight weeks of intervention all rats were evaluated using the novel object recognition (NOR) test. Blood and tissue samples were collected to measure proteins and neurotrophin-3 gene expression. RESULTS: Rats that received saffron treatment combined with exercise had significantly greater brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and serotonin in hippocampus compared to the control and saffron-only-treated rats (p< 0.05). Neurotrophin-3 mRNA in soleus muscle was higher in the saffron plus exercise group than rats in the other three groups (p< 0.05). Hippocampus 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid and short-term memory were significantly greater in all the intervention groups than in the control group (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Saffron, combined with endurance exercise, synergistically increased hippocampus BDNF, serotonin, and muscular neurotrophin-3 mRNA in Wistar rats.
BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that combined approaches based on exercise and nutrition benefit neural development. We aimed to determine the effect of saffron and endurance training on hippocampus neurogenic factors, neurotrophin-3 gene expression in soleus muscle, and short-term memory in Wistar rats. METHODS: The study analyzed four groups of ten rats each: control, exercise, saffron, and saffron plus exercise. The rats in the exercise groups were trained on a rodent motor-driven treadmill. All rats were gavage daily with either saffron extract (40 mg/kg) or water. After eight weeks of intervention all rats were evaluated using the novel object recognition (NOR) test. Blood and tissue samples were collected to measure proteins and neurotrophin-3 gene expression. RESULTS: Rats that received saffron treatment combined with exercise had significantly greater brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and serotonin in hippocampus compared to the control and saffron-only-treated rats (p< 0.05). Neurotrophin-3 mRNA in soleus muscle was higher in the saffron plus exercise group than rats in the other three groups (p< 0.05). Hippocampus 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid and short-term memory were significantly greater in all the intervention groups than in the control group (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Saffron, combined with endurance exercise, synergistically increased hippocampus BDNF, serotonin, and muscular neurotrophin-3 mRNA in Wistar rats.
Authors: Abdol-Reza Varasteh; Mojtaba Sankian; Terumi Midoro-Horiuti; Malihe Moghadam; Mohamad Taghi Shakeri; Edward G Brooks; Randall M Goldblum; Martin D Chapman; Anna Pomés Journal: Rep Biochem Mol Biol Date: 2012-10
Authors: Glòria Arqué; Vassiliki Fotaki; David Fernández; María Martínez de Lagrán; Maria L Arbonés; Mara Dierssen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2008-07-02 Impact factor: 3.240