Adulthood effects of developmental exercise in rats
Emma C Perez1, Kevin H Gehm1, Valeria Gaume Lobo2
1Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
Developmental Psychobiology
|December 22, 2023
Summary
Adolescent exercise in rats showed lasting effects on stress response, increasing escape from stress in males. However, early exercise did not significantly alter adult responses to chronic stress.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- The adolescent brain's plasticity suggests exercise may confer long-term stress response benefits.
- Understanding lasting impacts of early-life exercise on stress circuitry is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if adolescent voluntary wheel running impacts adult stress response and behavior after a period of inactivity.
- To determine the long-term effects of developmental exercise on physiological and behavioral outcomes following chronic stress.
Main Methods:
- Adolescent rats (male and female) underwent 6 weeks of voluntary wheel running, followed by 6 weeks of inactivity.
- Adult rats were subjected to 10 days of chronic restraint stress.
- Measures included fecal corticosterone, escape latency, anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus maze), and locomotor activity (open field).
Main Results:
- Developmental exercise and adult stress independently influenced adult outcomes.
- Exercise history increased the likelihood of escape from restraint stress in adult males.
- Exercise did not significantly alter corticosterone levels, anxiety-like behavior, or locomotor activity in response to stress.
Conclusions:
- Early-life exercise in rats has lasting effects on the stress circuitry.
- These effects did not substantially modify the overall adult response to chronic restraint stress, particularly in females.
- Further research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms and potential sex differences in exercise's long-term impact on stress resilience.
