Physical Activity Dynamically Regulates the Hippocampal Proteome along the Dorso-Ventral Axis

Abstract

The hippocampus is central for higher cognition and emotions. In patients suffering from neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative diseases, hippocampal signaling is altered causing cognitive defects. Thus, therapeutic approaches aim at improving cognition by targeting the hippocampus. Enhanced physical activity (EPA) improves cognition in rodents and humans. A systematic screen, however, for expression changes in the hippocampus along the dorso-ventral axis is missing, which is a prerequisite for understanding molecular mechanisms. Here, we exploited label free mass spectrometry to detect proteomic changes in the hippocampus of male mice upon voluntary wheel running. To identify regional differences, we examined dorsal and ventral CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus hippocampal subregions. We found metabolic enzymes and actin binding proteins, such as RhoA, being upregulated in the hippocampus upon EPA suggesting a coordination between metabolism and cytoskeleton remodeling; two pathways essential for synaptic plasticity. Strikingly, dorsal and ventral hippocampal subregions respond differentially to EPA. Together, our results provide new insight into proteomic adaptations driven by physical activity in mice. In addition, our results suggest that dorsal and ventral hippocampus, as well as hippocampal subregions themselves, contribute differently to this process. Our study therefore provides an important resource for studying hippocampal subregion diversity in response to EPA.

Age‐related positive emotional reactivity decline associated with the anterior insula based resting‐state functional connectivity

“…The anatomical structure of the hippocampus enables the brain to connect memory with emotions. According to lesion experiments, spatial memory depends on the dorsal hippocampus (DH), whereas stress response and emotional behavior depend on the ventral hippocampus (VH) (Frey et al, 2020). In addition, most studies have specifically divided the hippocampus into the dentate gyrus; the cornus ammonis (CA; CA1, CA2, and CA3); the entorhinal cortex; and the subiculum (von Ziegler et al, 2018).…”

The Sedentary Lifestyle and Masticatory Dysfunction: Time to Review the Contribution to Age-Associated Cognitive Decline and Astrocyte Morphotypes in the Dentate Gyrus

“…In addition, the septal/temporal divisions of the hippocampus exhibit significant differences in behavior-induced arc gene expression [ 158 ], distinct transcriptional and epigenetic effects in response to an enriched environment or physical activity [ 82 , 159 ], and distinct pathological responses throughout aging [ 160 ]. The dorsal hippocampus is associated with spatial memory and contextual information processing, while the ventral hippocampus is related to emotional behavior in association with fear, anxiety, and reward processing [ 161 , 162 , 163 ]. For example, small lesions in either the dorsal or ventral hippocampus generate distinct behavioral impairments in working memory and reference memory retrieval [ 164 ] and normal or abnormal neurogenesis along the septal/temporal hippocampal regions, which may be connected to mental health, neurological diseases [ 165 , 166 ] or affective disorders [ 167 ].…”

Neuroethical Issues in Times of Health Crisis. What Roles for Neurosciences, IA, Neurotechnologies?<strong> </strong>

“…Our brain wants something new, discovery, movement, it evolves through social interactions, which seems to be what has allowed man to have a developed brain. A stimulating environment, just like physical activity, promotes neurogenesis, neuronal and synaptic plasticity [14]. They are crucial properties of the nervous system allowing it to adapt and evolve [15] , [16], using reward, pleasure and addiction circuits [17], emotions [18], stress and anxiety axis [19].…”