Treadmill exercise reduces spinal cord injury‑induced apoptosis by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway in rats

  • Authors:
    • Sun‑Young Jung
    • Dae‑Young Kim
    • Tae Young Yune
    • Dong‑Hoon Shin
    • Sang‑Bin Baek
    • Chang‑Ju Kim
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  • Published online on: December 17, 2013     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.1451
  • Pages: 587-593
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Abstract

Apoptosis occurring secondary to spinal cord injury (SCI) causes further neural damage and functional loss. In this study, a rat model was used to investigate the effect of treadmill exercise on SCI‑induced apoptosis and expression of neurotrophic factors. To produce SCI, a contusion injury (10 g x 25 mm) was applied subsequent to laminectomy at the T9‑T10 level. Following SCI, treadmill exercise was performed for six weeks. Hindlimb motor function was evaluated with a grid‑walking test. The expression of neurotrophic factors and the level of apoptosis at the site of SCI were determined by western blotting. SCI reduced hindlimb motor function and suppressed expression of neurotrophin (NT)‑3 and insulin‑like growth factor (IGF)‑1. Expression of phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase (PI3K), the ratio of phosphorylated Akt to Akt (pAkt/Akt) and the ratio of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) to Bax (Bcl‑2/Bax) were decreased, and cleaved caspase‑3 expression was increased by SCI. Treadmill exercise enhanced hindlimb motor function and increased expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), NT‑3 and IGF‑1 in the SCI rats. Treadmill exercise increased PI3K expression, the pAkt/Akt and the Bcl‑2/Bax ratios, and suppressed cleaved caspase‑3 expression in the injured spinal cord. This study demonstrated that treadmill exercise promotes the recovery of motor function by suppressing apoptosis in the injured spinal cord. The beneficial effect of exercise may be attributed to the increase in expression of neurotrophic factors via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.
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2014-March
Volume 7 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Jung SY, Kim DY, Yune TY, Shin DH, Baek SB and Kim CJ: Treadmill exercise reduces spinal cord injury‑induced apoptosis by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway in rats. Exp Ther Med 7: 587-593, 2014.
APA
Jung, S., Kim, D., Yune, T.Y., Shin, D., Baek, S., & Kim, C. (2014). Treadmill exercise reduces spinal cord injury‑induced apoptosis by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway in rats. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 7, 587-593. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.1451
MLA
Jung, S., Kim, D., Yune, T. Y., Shin, D., Baek, S., Kim, C."Treadmill exercise reduces spinal cord injury‑induced apoptosis by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway in rats". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 7.3 (2014): 587-593.
Chicago
Jung, S., Kim, D., Yune, T. Y., Shin, D., Baek, S., Kim, C."Treadmill exercise reduces spinal cord injury‑induced apoptosis by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway in rats". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 7, no. 3 (2014): 587-593. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.1451