Ann Rehabil Med.  2012 Jun;36(3):303-310. 10.5535/arm.2012.36.3.303.

The Effect of Combined Therapy of Exercise and Nootropic Agent on Cognitive Function in Focal Cerebral Infarction Rat Model

• Song MK
• Seon HJ
• Kim IG
• Han JY
• Choi IS
• Lee SG

• KMID: 2266734
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2012.36.3.303

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of combined therapy of exercise and nootropic agent on cognitive function in a focal cerebral infarction rat model. METHOD: Forty 10-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to photothrombotic cerebral infarction of the left parietal lobe. All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A was photothrombotic cerebral infarction rats without any treatment (n=10); group B was photothrombotic cerebral infarction rats with swimming exercise (n=10); group C was photothrombotic cerebral infarction rats with oral administration of acetyl-L-carnitine (n=10); group D was photothrombotic cerebral infarction rats with swimming exercise and oral administration of acetyl-L-carnitine (n=10). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze test on the 1st day, and the 1st, 2nd, and 4th week after the induction of cerebral infarction. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the hippocampus were measured. The neuronal cells of the hippocampus were histopathologically evaluated.
RESULTS
The escape latency was shorter in groups B, C, and D than in group A. However, the differences were not statistically significant at the 1st, 2nd and 4th week. The activity of SOD was the highest in group D. The level of MDA was the lowest in group D. We observed more normal neuronal cells in groups B, C, and D.
CONCLUSION
The combined therapy of exercise and nootropic agent was helpful in ameliorating oxidative stress in the focal cerebral infarction rat model. However, the effect did not translate into improvement of cognitive function.

Keyword

Cerebral infarction; Cognition; Exercise; Nootropic agents

MeSH Terms

Acetylcarnitine
Administration, Oral
Animals
Cerebral Infarction
Cognition
Hippocampus
Humans
Male
Malondialdehyde
Maze Learning
Neurons
Nootropic Agents
Oxidative Stress
Parietal Lobe
Piracetam
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Superoxide Dismutase
Swimming
United Nations
Acetylcarnitine
Malondialdehyde
Maze Learning
Nootropic Agents
Piracetam
Superoxide Dismutase

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The escape latency was shorter in groups B, C and D than group A. However, the differences were not statistically significant at the 1st, 2nd and 4th week after the induction of photothrombotic cerebral infarction in experimental rats.

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  Fig. 2 The activity of superoxide dismutase was more elevated in groups B, C, and D than group A. Group D was more elevated than groups B and C.

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  Fig. 3 The level of malondialdehyde was more decreased in groups B, C, and D than group A. There were no significant differences among groups B, C, and D.

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  Fig. 4 Severe cortical damage is observed in the left parietal lobe in all groups (the left parietal cortex, H&E stain, ×40).

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  Fig. 5 A greater number of normal neuronal cells are observed in groups B, C, and D (CA3 region of hippocampus, H&E stain, ×200)

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