The effects of aerobic training before and after the induction of Alzheimer’s disease on ABCA1 and APOE mRNA expression and the level of soluble Aβ1-42 in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE(S): The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic training before and after the induction of Alzheimer’s disease on ABCA1 and APOE mRNA expression and the level of soluble Aβ1-42 in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety six eight-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: Training (n=48) and Rest (n=48). After four weeks, each group was randomly divided into two subgroups: intra-hippocampal injection of Aβ1-42 (n=24) and DMSO (n=24). Then, each group was again randomly divided into two groups: Training (n=12) and Rest (n=12). After four weeks, each group was again randomly divided into two groups: Behavioral test (n=7) and sacrificed (n=5). RESULTS: The one-way ANOVA showed a significant increase in the mRNA expression of ABCA1 (P<0.05), a significant decrease in the level of soluble Aβ1-42, and no significant difference in the expression of APOE mRNA (P>0.05) in the hippocampus as a result of training. The analysis of the Morris water maze data showed that intra-hippocampal injection of Aβ1-42 impaired spatial learning and memory and exercise improved spatial learning (P<0.05) and memory (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Therefore, aerobic training by a significant increase in the mRNA expression of ABCA1, which is the main factors of lipid metabolism in the brain and which is involved in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, can be consistent with improving cognitive function as an effective way of preventing and improving the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.