Exercise decreases BACE and APP levels in the hippocampus of a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Mol Cell Neurosci. 2018 Jan:86:25-29. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2017.11.008. Epub 2017 Nov 9.

Abstract

We investigated the effect of treadmill exercise training on the levels of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related protein molecules in the DG and CA1 areas of a rat model of AD, i.c.v. infusion of Aβ1-42 peptide, 2weeks (250pmol/day). Aβ infusion markedly increased protein levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP), the secretase beta-site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1) and Aβ in the CA1 and DG areas. The results also revealed that 4weeks of treadmill exercise prevented the increase in the levels of APP, BACE-1 and Aβ proteins in both hippocampal areas. Exercise, however, did not affect the levels of these proteins in normal rats. We suggest that exercise might be changing the equilibrium of APP processing pathway towards the nonpathogenic pathway most probably via increasing BDNF levels in the brain of AD model.

Keywords: Amyloid precursor protein; Aβ1-42; Beta-secretase 1; Treadmill exercise.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / chemically induced
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / therapy
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / administration & dosage
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Exercise Test / methods
  • Infusions, Intraventricular
  • Male
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Peptide Fragments / toxicity*
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / methods
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Bace1 protein, rat