The impact of mild aerobic exercise on brain derived neurotrophic factor, memory function and hippocampus anatomy-histology of the wistar rats

Background: BDNF is a neurotrophin which plays roles in memory and learning functions. The hippocampus shows BDNF expression to regulate memory function. This study aims to determine the effects of mild aerobic exercises on BDNF expression, the number of pyramidal cells in the CA3 area on hippocampus, memory function and CA3 area ratio to the total CA1, CA2, and CA3 area on hippocampus. Methods: This experimental study used 12 male Wistar rats (8–10 weeks old, 200–250 mg), divided into mild aerobic group and control. The aerobic exercises used animal treadmills (12 m/min speed, twice a week, 11 weeks) which were tested with the water E-maze test (total errors and travel time) for memory function. BDNF expression in the CA3 area was assessed using Immunohistochemistry staining; the number of pyramidal cells of the CA3 area on hippocampus and CA3 area ratio to the total CA1, CA2, and CA3 area on hippocampus were assessed using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Results: The results showed increasing trend in BDNF expression and the number of pyramidal cells in the CA3 area on hippocampus, although it is not significant statistically. CA3 area ratio to the total CA1, CA2, and CA3 area between mild aerobic group and control shows no significant differences. In mild aerobic group total errors and travel time was decrease. Memory function’s improvement strongly correlated with increased BDNF expression in mild aerobic group. Conclusions: Mild aerobic exercises have positive influence on memory function through increased BDNF expression.