Effects of aerobic exercise on demyelination and brain morphology in the cuprizone rat model of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that led to brain atrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pre-and post-conditioning with exercise on demyelination and brain morphology. Thirty male rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6 per group), consisting of a healthy control group (Control), an MS group, and three exercise groups: the group that performed the exercise protocol (running on a treadmill 5 days/week for 6 weeks) before the MS induction (EX + MS), the group that performed the exercise protocol during the MS induction (MS + EX), and the group that performed the exercise protocol before and during the MS induction (EX + MS + EX). The expression of Myelin basic protein (MBP), and demyelination in the corpus callosum and the volume, weight, length, width, and height of the brain were measured. The EX + MS + EX showed a significant increase in the expression of MBP compared to other MS groups (**p < 0.01) as well as a significant decrease in the area of demyelination of the corpus callosum compared to MS and MS + EX groups (**p < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences between the MS group and exercised groups for brain morphology. The exercise showed neuroprotective effects, as evidenced by decreased areas of demyelination and improved MBP expression.