The Effect of Treadmill Running on Passive Avoidance Learning in Animal Model of Alzheimer Disease

Background: alzheimer’s disease was known as a progressiveneurodegenerative disorder in the elderly and is characterized bydementia and severe neuronal loss in the some regions of brain suchas nucleus basalis magnocellularis. it plays an important role in thebrain functions such as learning and memory. loss of cholinergicneurons of nucleus basalis magnocellularis by ibotenic acid cancommonly be regarded as a suitable model of alzheimer’s disease.previous studies reported that exercise training may slow downthe onset and progression of memory deficit in neurodegenerativedisorders. this research investigates the effects of treadmillrunning on acquisition and retention time of passive avoidancedeficits induced by ibotenic acid nucleus basalis magnocellularislesion.methods: male wistar rats were randomly selected and dividedinto five groups as follows: control, sham, alzheimer, exercisebefore alzheimer, and exercise groups. treadmill running had a21 day period and alzheimer was induced by 5 ?g/?l bilateralinjection of ibotenic acid in nucleus basalis magnocellularis.results: our results showed that ibotenic acid lesionssignificantly impaired passive avoidance acquisition (p < 0.01)and retention (p < 0.001) performance, while treadmill runningexercise significantly (p < 0.001) improved passive avoidancelearning in nbm?lesion rats.conclusion: treadmill running has a potential role in theprevention of learning and memory impairments in nbm?lesionrats.