Effect of cholinesterase inhibitor and exercise on choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities in rat brain regions

Exercise Improves Recognition Memory and Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Beta Amyloid-Induced Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Objective

A correlation between physical exercise and cognitive improvement has been found in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on the recognition memory and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in beta amyloid (Aβ) model of AD in rat.

Materials and Methods

Fifty male 8-week-old Wistar rats (250-280 g) were divided into 5 groups (n = 10 each) of control, sham surgery, Aβ-received sedentary, Aβ-received with aerobic exercise and Aβ-received with resistance exercise. AD was induced by intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ_25-35 peptide. The sham surgery group received normal saline using the same route and condition. Two groups of Aβ-received animals were trained by treadmill for aerobic exercise and by ladder for strength exercise for 8 weeks (4 days/week). Novel object recognition (NOR) task was used to assess recognitional memory in groups. AChE activity in the brain tissue was assessed using the Spectrophotometry method.

Results

There was no significant difference in memory index and AChE activity between the sham surgery and control groups (p > 0.05). Also, impairment of NOR indices was seen in the Aβ-injected sedentary rats (p < 0.05). However, both aerobic and strength training improved the exploration index in this test (p < 0.05). Further, AChE activity increased in the Aβ-injected sedentary group but declined in the aerobic and resistance exercise groups (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Aerobic and resistance exercise could improve recognition memory and decrease AChE activity in Aβ-induced AD in rats. The decrease in AChE activity may be one of the mechanisms by which exercise improves cognition and memory in AD.

Effects of Takju intake and moderate exercise training on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and learning ability in rats

Takju is a Korean alcoholic beverage made from rice, and is brewed with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exercise training and moderate Takju consumption on learning ability in 6-week old Sprague-Dawley male rats. The rats were treated with exercise and alcohol for 4 weeks in six separate groups as follows: non-exercised control (CC), exercised control (EC), non-exercised consuming ethanol (CA), exercised consuming ethanol (EA), non-exercised consuming Takju (CT), and exercised consuming Takju (ET). An AIN-93M diet was provided ad libitum. Exercise training was performed at a speed of 10 m/min for 15 minutes per day. Ethanol and Takju were administered daily for 6-7 hours to achieve an intake of about 10 ml after 12 hours of deprivation, and, thereafter, the animals were allowed free access to deionized water. A Y-shaped water maze was used from the third week to understand the effects of exercise and alcohol consumption on learning and memory. After sacrifice, brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was analyzed. Total caloric intake and body weight changes during the experiment were not significantly different among the groups. AChE activity was not significantly different among the groups. The number of errors for position reversal training in the maze was significantly smaller in the EA group than that in the CA and ET groups, and latency times were shorter in the EA group than those in the CC, EC, CT, and ET groups. The latency difference from the first to the fifth day was shortest in the ET group. The exercised groups showed more errors and latency than those of the non-exercised groups on the first day, but the data became equivalent from the second day. The results indicate that moderate exercise can increase memory and learning and that the combination of exercise and Takju ingestion may enhance learning ability.

Stress interacts with peripheral cholinesterase inhibitors to cause central nervous system effects

Pyridostigmine bromide (PB), a peripheral cholinesterase inhibitor, has been shown to have central cholinesterase inhibition properties under certain conditions (such as when ingested with other chemical compounds or following a high level of stress). Here we tested if stressing rats, using an intermittent 1 hr tailshock protocol, affected the degree of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition caused by a subsequent single injection of PB (2.0 mg/kg) or neostigmine bromide (NB, 0.32 mg/kg), another peripheral carbamate cholinesterase inhibitor. Stressed rats treated with PB had lower levels of AChE activity in the basal forebrain/striatum, but not in other brain areas. Stressed rats treated with NB did not show basal forebrain/striatum AChE activity changes but did show minor reductions of AChE activity in the cortex and cerebellum. These results confirm that prior stress can change the characteristic actions of certain peripherally acting drugs, thus possibly leading to unexpected central nervous system effects. Possible causes for these effects are discussed.

Neither forced running nor forced swimming affect acute pyridostigmine toxicity or brain-regional cholinesterase inhibition in rats

Stress-induced change in the distribution of the drug pyridostigmine (PYR) has been proposed as a contributing factor to unexplained illnesses in Persian Gulf War veterans. We evaluated the effects of two stress models, forced running and forced swimming, on acute PYR (30 mg/kg, p.o.) toxicity and cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition in the blood and selected brain regions of young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks of age). Plasma corticosterone levels were measured at 0, 1 and 3 h after termination of forced swimming or forced running to confirm the induction of stress. PYR was given either immediately before stress (15 min swimming; 20 min running) or immediately after stress (15 min swimming; 90 min running) and cholinergic toxicity and ChE inhibition were evaluated at 1, 2 or 4 h after PYR exposure. Additionally, rats were subjected to either swimming (15 min) or running (90 min) stress, anesthetized, injected with horseradish peroxidase (HRP, 100 mg/kg, transcardial) and brain-regional HRP activity measured as an indicator of altered blood-brain barrier integrity. Both forced swimming and forced running resulted in significant elevations of plasma corticosterone levels. PYR caused cholinergic toxicity at all time-points evaluated. Swimming and running stress had little influence on expression of PYR-induced toxicity, however. Blood ChE activity was generally inhibited 77-91% at 1-4 h after PYR, but rats pretreated with PYR prior to forced swimming showed lesser inhibition (64%) 1 h after dosing, possibly because of swimming-induced hypothermia and delayed absorption of the drug. Minimal changes in ChE activity were noted in frontal cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus following PYR exposure (maximal inhibition 28%), and neither swimming nor running stress affected the degree of inhibition. Neither stress model increased HRP accumulation in any brain region. The results suggest that stress associated with forced running or forced swimming has little effect on acute PYR toxicity, entry of PYR into the brain or PYR-induced brain-regional ChE inhibition.

Effect of exercise training and chronic ethanol ingestion on cholinesterase activity and lipid peroxidation in blood and brain regions of rat

1. This study examines the effects of exercise training and chronic ethanol consumption on cholinesterase activity and its relationship to lipid peroxidation in blood and brain regions of rat. 2. Exercise training (6.5 weeks) decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity significantly (64% of control) in hypothalamus and increased AChE activity in cerebral cortex (149% of control), whereas, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased in hypothalamus (129% of control) and decreased in cortex, striatum, and cerebellum (50%, 69% and 75% of control), respectively. 3. Chronic ethanol ingestion (2.0 gm/kg, p.o. for 6.5 weeks) significantly increased butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity in plasma (136% of control) and decreased AChE activity in hypothalamus (63% of control), whereas, MDA levels increased in hypothalamus, cortex, and plasma (140%, 130% and 220% of control), respectively. 4. The combination significantly increased BuChE activity (173% of control) in plasma and decreased AChE activity (71% of control) in hypothalamus and (57% of control) in cerebellum, whereas, MDA levels increased in hypothalamus, cerebellum, medulla and plasma (134%, 128%, 140% and 309% of control), respectively. 5. Exercise training, chronic ethanol ingestion, and combination selectively inhibited hypothalamic AChE and the inhibition was correlated with increased lipid peroxidation (r = 0.11, 0.41 and 0.45) which may perturb hypothalamic function. The combination enhanced the peripheral stress response by increasing plasma BuChE activity and lipid peroxidation.

Influence of exercise and ethanol on cholinesterase activity and lipid peroxidation in blood and brain regions of rat

1. This study elucidates the interaction of acute exercise and single ethanol intake on cholinergic enzyme and its relationship to lipid peroxidation in the blood and brain regions of the rat. 2. Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in plasma and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in brain regions as well as lipid peroxidation (MDA) were assayed in 1) sedentary control rats; 2) after acute exercise (100% VO2max); 3) ethanol 20% (1.6 gm/kg, p.o.); 4) exercise and then ethanol 20% (1.6 gm/kg, p.o.). 3. Acute exercise significantly increased BuChE activity (155% of control) in plasma and decreased AChE activity (60% of control) in the corpus striatum with a significant increase in the striatal MDA level (254% of control). Ethanol significantly decreased AChE activity only in striatum (86% of control) with a significant increase in striatal MDA level (132% of control). 4. The combination of exercise and ethanol 20% (1.6 gm/kg, p.o.) significantly increased BuChE activity (123% of control) in plasma, and decreased AChE activity (76% of control) in striatum with significant increase in striatal MDA level (147% of control). 5. Acute exercise, single ethanol 20% (1.6 gm/kg, p.o.) intake and the combination selectively inhibited striatal AChE, and the inhibition was correlated with increased lipid peroxidation indicating perturbation of motor function. The combination reduced the peripheral stress response caused by exhaustive exercise.

Effects of low doses of physostigmine on avoidance learning and EEG in two strains of mice

The effects of the cholinomimetic drug, physostigmine (0, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), on shuttle-box avoidance learning and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity were investigated, in two separate studies, in mice belonging to the inbred C57BL/6 (C57) and DBA/2 (DBA) strains. The results of the behavioral investigation showed a consistent, significant enhancement of avoidance performance, on the whole of 5 daily training sessions, in C57 mice treated with the lowest dose (0.01 mg/kg) and in DBA mice treated with the highest doses (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) of the drug. Doses higher than 0.01 mg/kg, in C57 mice, and lower than 0.05 mg/kg, in DBA mice, had no significant effect. The avoidance improvements induced by physostigmine cannot be ascribed to general behavioral activation, since the doses that increased avoidance responses did not affect or even depressed spontaneous locomotor activity. The same doses of treatment which increased avoidance responding, also induced, in the same strains, consistent enhancement of 4-7 Hz (theta) EEG band power and decrease of 7-12 Hz (alpha) band power. Results suggest that the effects induced by physostigmine on the EEG and on the shuttle-box performance of mice are related to the same neurochemical systems, and are dependent upon the interaction of the dose with specific strain sensitivity.

Effect of exercise training on antioxidant system in brain regions of rat

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether any alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities and levels of glutathione (GSH) in brain regions occurred following exercise training. Sprague-Dawley rats were given exercise training on a treadmill for 7.5 weeks and sacrificed 18 h after the last exercise along with the sedentary control rats. Different brain regions-cerebral cortex (CC), brainstem (BS), corpus striatum (CS), and hippocampus (H)-were isolated; GSH, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined. The exercise training increased SOD activity significantly (130% of sedentary control) in BS and in CS. SOD activity in H was the lowest of all four brain regions. Different brain regions showed GSH-Px activity in decreasing order for CS < BS < CC < H. GSH levels were 43% less in BS than CC and CS. The ratio of GSH/GSSG significantly increased from 6.8 to 8.3 in CC, and from 9.4 to 13.5 in BS as a result of exercise training. Different brain regions contained different activities of antioxidant enzymes, as well as GSH and GSSG levels, which were preferentially altered as a result of exercise training to cope with oxidative stress.

Concurrent acute exercise alters central and peripheral responses to physostigmine

This study reports the modulatory effects of physostigmine (Phy) and concurrent acute exercise on the time course of cholinesterase (ChE) activity, the rate of decarbamylation (Kd), and half-time of recovery of ChE in red blood cells (RBC) and various tissues of rats. Acute exercise equivalent to 80% VO2-max (maximal oxygen consumption) transiently increased the RBC ChE activity, whereas Phy decreased ChE activity in RBC and various tissues. Physostigmine along with concurrent acute exercise increased the Kd in RBC, brain, and heart by 56.4%, 66.7%, and 139%, respectively, compared to Phy alone. The Kd in diaphragm and muscle decreased to 14.1% and 56.2%, respectively, compared to Phy alone. The variation in Kd might be due to the effect of concurrent acute exercise on the redistribution of Phy in various tissues of rat as a result of changes in blood flow.

Effect of physostigmine and exercise on choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities in fast and slow muscles of rat

The interaction of physostigmine (Phy) and exercise on choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) have been studied in the fast extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and slow soleus muscles of rat. ChAT decreased significantly by trained exercise in EDL muscle and Phy prolonged this effect even up to 24 h. Soleus muscles showed a small increase of ChAT due to exercise but Phy + exercise did not change significantly. Both EDL and soleus showed a marked decrease in AChE activity due to subacute administration of Phy + trained exercise, exhibiting an additive effect. No recovery was observed in ChAT and AChE activities of EDL even after 24 h in Phy + trained exercise group. Our results suggest that Phy and exercise has significant effect on the synthetic (ChAT) and degradative (AChE) enzymes of acetylcholine in active EDL muscle. Exercise has prolonged the inhibitory effect of Phy on ChAT and AChE activities both in active EDL and passive soleus muscles. This study showed that Phy + exercise modified the functional activity of cholinergic system in EDL and soleus muscles.

Modulation of tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression in the rat adrenal gland by exercise: effects of age

Both aging and exercise are associated with alterations in circulating levels of catecholamines. To determine the interactions of age and exercise on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity and TH mRNA, Fischer-344 female rats aged 5 months (young) and 25 months (old) were trained by treadmill running for 10 weeks. The elevation in maximum oxygen consumption in both groups was equivalent following exercise, indicating that training had occurred. In control rats, both TH activity and TH mRNA were greater in the older groups when compared with the younger animals. In young rats, exercise decreased TH activity by 25% and TH mRNA by 27%. In older rats, exercise was not associated with a decrease in TH activity and TH mRNA. Choline acetyltransferase activity (ChAT) was decreased and glutamic acid decarboxylase activity (GAD) was increased by exercise in young rats. The decrease in ChAT activity and increase in GAD activity suggest that trans-synaptic mechanisms play a role in the exercise-induced alteration of TH gene expression. Neither ChAT nor GAD was altered by exercise in older groups. Our data suggest that the previously reported diminution in catecholamines associated with exercise may be due to a decrease in TH mRNA and a resulting decrease in TH activity. There was no effect of exercise in the old rats, supporting previous observations that the plasticity of the sympathoadrenal system diminishes with age.