One-Week High-Intensity Interval Training Increases Hippocampal Plasticity and Mitochondrial Content without Changes in Redox State

Abstract

Evidence suggests that physical exercise has effects on neuronal plasticity as well as overall brain health. This effect has been linked to exercise capacity in modulating the antioxidant status, when the oxidative stress is usually linked to the neuronal damage. Although high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is the training-trend worldwide, its effect on brain function is still unclear. Thus, we aimed to assess the neuroplasticity, mitochondrial, and redox status after one-week HIIT training. Male (C57Bl/6) mice were assigned to non-trained or HIIT groups. The HIIT protocol consisted of three days with short bouts at 130% of maximum speed (Vmax), intercalated with moderate-intensity continuous exercise sessions of 30 min at 60% Vmax. The mass spectrometry analyses showed that one-week of HIIT increased minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (MCM2), brain derived neutrophic factor (BDNF), doublecortin (DCX) and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 2 (VDAC), and decreased mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD 2) in the hippocampus. In addition, one-week of HIIT promoted no changes in H2O2 production and carbonylated protein concentration in the hippocampus as well as in superoxide anion production in the dentate gyrus. In conclusion, our one-week HIIT protocol increased neuroplasticity and mitochondrial content regardless of changes in redox status, adding new insights into the neuronal modulation induced by new training models.

Is High-Intensity Interval Training Suitable to Promote Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Functions after Stroke?

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Lactate as Potential Mediators for Exercise-Induced Positive Effects on Neuroplasticity and Cerebrovascular Plasticity

“…Indeed, growing evidence has shown that high-intensity exercise can increase the level of BDNF, a critical nutritional factor promoting neuroplasticity, to a greater extent than MLIE (Jimenez-Maldonado et al, 2018;Rodriguez et al, 2018;Cefis et al, 2019). Other animal studies also highlight the positive effects of high-intensity exercise on the brain (Saucedo Marquez et al, 2015;Dos Santos et al, 2020;Hu et al, 2021).…”

Neuroprotective Effect of HIIT against GFAP Hypertrophy through Mitochondrial Dynamics in APP/PS1 Mice

“…Studies have concluded that physical activity improves brain metabolism and cognitive function, but the brain region most significantly affected by exercise is the hippocampus [ 6 , 15 – 17 ]. The hippocampus is a key structure in the brain that is responsible for learning and memory [ 18 ], and appropriate exercise is responsible for an increased volume of blood flow to the hippocampus [ 17 , 19 , 20 ]. Although studies have shown that HIIT is an effective form of physical training, the neuroprotective effects on the hippocampus are not well understood.…”