Cited by 187Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Daily exercise improves memory, stimulates hippocampal neurogenesis and modulates immune and neuroimmune cytokines in aging rats

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Speisman, Rachel B., Kumar, Ashok, Rani, Asha, Foster, Thomas C., Ormerod, Brandi K.·2013·Brain Behavior and Immunity

Abstract

We tested whether daily exercise modulates immune and neuroimmune cytokines, hippocampus-dependent behavior and hippocampal neurogenesis in aging male F344 rats (18mo upon arrival). Twelve weeks after conditioned running or control group assignment, the rats were trained and tested in a rapid water maze followed by an inhibitory avoidance task. The rats were BrdU-injected beginning 12days after behavioral testing and killed 3weeks later to quantify cytokines and neurogenesis. Daily exercise increased neurogenesis and improved immediate and 24h water maze discrimination index (DI) scores and 24h inhibitory avoidance retention latencies. Daily exercise decreased cortical VEGF, hippocampal IL-1β and serum MCP-1, GRO-KC and leptin levels but increased hippocampal GRO-KC and IL-18 concentrations. Serum leptin concentration correlated negatively with new neuron number and both DI scores while hippocampal IL-1β concentration correlated negatively with memory scores in both tasks. Cortical VEGF, serum GRO-KC and serum MCP-1 levels correlated negatively with immediate DI score and we found novel positive correlations between hippocampal IL-18 and GRO-KC levels and new neuron number. Pathway analyses revealed distinct serum, hippocampal and cortical compartment cytokine relationships. Our results suggest that daily exercise potentially improves cognition in aging rats by modulating hippocampal neurogenesis and immune and neuroimmune cytokine signaling. Our correlational data begin to provide a framework for systematically manipulating these immune and neuroimmune signaling molecules to test their effects on cognition and neurogenesis across lifespan in future experiments.

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  • Anti-inflammatory treatments or behavioral therapies that reduce inflammatory markers in the blood are associated with improved cognitive performance and immune function.

    “anti-inflammatory treatments or behavioral therapies that reduce inflammatory markers in the blood are associated with improved cognitive performance and immune function.(Speisman, Kumar, Rani, Foster, and Ormerod 2013)”

    From Successful aging: Advancing the science of physical independence in older adults (2015) · cites this paper as Speisman et al. 2013

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  1. Palmer TD Willhoite AR Gage FH Vascular niche for adult hippocampal neurogenesis J Comp Neurol 2000 425 479 494 10975875

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Authors
Speisman, R. B., Kumar, A., Rani, A., Foster, T. C., & Ormerod, B. K.
Affiliations
University of Florida (US)
Corresponding author
Ormerod, Brandi K.
Venue
Brain Behavior and Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-02
Volume
28
Pages
25-43
ISSN
0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1972727110
Cited by
187
References
150
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 1
FWCI
5.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (AG037984, AG014979, AG038600)
  • National Science Foundation (DGE-0802270)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
physical activity, hippocampal neurogenesis, neuroimmune signaling, cytokines, aging, memory, vascular endothelial growth factor, IL-1β, IL-18, MCP-1, leptin, water maze, passive avoidance, BrdU labeling, F344 rats
MeSH terms
Aging, Animals, Hippocampus, Immunity, Male, Memory, Physical Conditioning, Animal, Rats, Inbred F344, Neuroimmunomodulation, Cytokines, Maze Learning, Rats, Neurogenesis

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