Acute physical exercise prevents memory amnesia caused by protein synthesis inhibition in rats' hippocampus.

The benefits of physical exercise (PE) on memory consolidation have been well-documented in both healthy and memory-impaired animals. However, the underlying mechanisms through which PE exerts these effects are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of hippocampal protein synthesis in memory modulation by acute PE in rats. After novel object recognition (NOR) training, rats were subjected to a 30-min moderate-intensity acute PE on the treadmill, while control animals did not undergo any procedures. Using anisomycin (ANI) and rapamycin (RAPA), compounds that inhibit protein synthesis through different mechanisms, we manipulated protein synthesis in the CA1 region of the hippocampus to examine its contribution to memory consolidation. Memory was assessed on days 1, 7, and 14 post-training. Our results showed that inhibiting protein synthesis by ANI or RAPA impaired NOR memory consolidation in control animals. However, acute PE prevented this impairment without affecting memory persistence. We also evaluated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels after acute PE at 0.5h, 2h, and 12h afterward and found no differences in levels compared to animals that did not engage in acute PE or were only habituated to the treadmill. Therefore, our findings suggest that acute PE could serve as a non-pharmacological intervention to enhance memory consolidation and prevent memory loss in conditions associated with hippocampal protein synthesis inhibition. This mechanism appears not to depend on BDNF synthesis in the early hours after exercise.

Egg White Hydrolysate Mitigates Cadmium-induced Neurological Disorders and Oxidative Damage.

We aimed to investigate whether the consumption of Egg White Hydrolysate (EWH) acts on nervous system disorders induced by exposure to Cadmium (Cd) in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into (a) Control (Ct): H2O by gavage for 28 days + H2O (i.p. - 15th - 28th day); (b) Cadmium (Cd): H2O by gavage + CdCl2 - 1 mg/kg/day (i.p. - 15th - 28th day); (c) EWH 14d: EWH 1 g/kg/day by gavage for 14 days + H2O (i.p.- 15th - 28th day); (d) Cd + EWH cotreatment (Cd + EWHco): CdCl2 + EWH for 14 days; (e) EWH 28d: EWH for 28 days; (f) EWHpre + Cd: EWH (1st - 28th day) + CdCl2 (15th - 28th day). At the beginning and the end of treatment, neuromotor performance (Neurological Deficit Scale); motor function (Rota-Rod test); ability to move and explore (Open Field test); thermal sensitivity (Hot Plate test); and state of anxiety (Elevated Maze test) were tested. The antioxidant status in the cerebral cortex and the striatum were biochemically analyzed. Cd induces anxiety, and neuromotor, and thermal sensitivity deficits. EWH consumption prevented anxiety, neuromotor deficits, and alterations in thermal sensitivity, avoiding neuromotor deficits both when the administration was performed before or during Cd exposure. Both modes of administration reduced the levels of reactive species, and the lipid peroxidation increased by Cd and improved the striatum's antioxidant capacity. Pretreatment proved to be beneficial in preventing the reduction of SOD activity in the cortex. EWH could be used as a functional food with antioxidant properties capable of preventing neurological damage induced by Cd.

Acute physical exercise enhances memory persistence in female rats.

Memory is a complex cognitive process with distinct stages, such as acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval. The hippocampus plays a crucial role in memory consolidation and retrieval. Physical exercise (PE) has been shown to enhance memory and cognitive functions, but the available research is mainly developed with males. So, there is limited knowledge about acute PE's effects on females' memory. This study aimed to investigate the impact of acute PE on memory in female rats and explore potential sex differences in PE memory modulation. Forty-two female Wistar rats were subjected to a novel object recognition (NOR) task, with half of them undergoing a single session of 30 min of PE after the learning session (memory acquisition). Behavioral assessments showed that acute PE improved memory persistence in female rats, with increased discrimination of novel objects. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated noradrenaline levels in the hippocampus following acute PE and NOR training. Notably, the positive effects of acute PE on female rats' memory were similar to those previously observed in male rats. These findings suggest that acute PE can enhance memory in female rats and underscore the importance of considering sex differences in cognitive research. PE may offer a non-invasive strategy to promote cognitive health in both males and females.

Long-term impact of neuroscience outreach interventions on elementary students' knowledge.

Neuroeducation is characterized as a subarea of neuroscience that involves comprehending the teaching and learning processes and relating them to neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropsychology. The inclusion of some aspects of the neuroscience of learning in teachers' and students' formation, applying them in teaching-learning environments, contributes to the quality of education and impacts students' quality of life and health. Thus, the POPNEURO outreach program performs interventions with students and teachers of low-income schools to disseminate neuroscience concepts, relating them to the students' daily lives. This study reports the impact of these actions, assessed 1 yr after their conclusion. The results showed that the long-term impact of the activities carried out is, in general, positive. Even 1 yr after the activities end, students demonstrate knowledge about the neuroscience themes and satisfaction with participating.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This article reports on neuroscience disclosure activities performed with school students and describes their short- and long-term positive impact. Even 1 yr after the activities, students demonstrate knowledge about the themes worked on and satisfaction with the activities.

Acute physical exercise improves recognition memory via locus coeruleus activation but not via ventral tegmental area activation.

Both animals and humans have been studied to explore the impact of acute physical exercise (PE) on memory. In rats, a single session of PE enhances the persistence of novel object recognition (NOR) memory, which depends on dopamine and noradrenaline activity in the hippocampus. However, limited research has examined the involvement of other brain regions in this phenomenon. In this study, we investigated the role of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC) in modulating the persistence of NOR memory induced by acute PE. After NOR training, some animals underwent a 30 min treadmill PE session, followed by infusion of either vehicle (VEH) or muscimol (MUS) in either the VTA or LC. Other animals did not undergo PE and only received VEH, MUS, or NMDA within the same time window. We evaluated memory recall 1, 7, and 14 days later. Acute PE promoted memory persistence for up to 14 days afterward, similar to NMDA glutamatergic stimulation of the VTA or LC. Moreover, only the LC region was required for the memory improvement induced by acute PE since blocking this region with MUS impaired NOR encoding. Our findings suggest that acute PE can improve learning within a closed time window, and this effect depends on LC, but not VTA, activity.

Starting maternal exercise, unlike reducing the intensity of exercise during pregnancy, prevents memory deficits in female offspring subject to maternal deprivation.

Maternal deprivation (MD) leads to long-lasting memory deficits. Conversely, maternal exercise could potently modify the offspring's cellular machinery. Here, we tested whether starting to run or reducing the intensity of running during pregnancy can protect prepubertal female offspring against MD-induced memory deficits. Female rats were divided into different groups submitted or not to MD: one started to run before pregnancy and reduced the intensity during the pregnancy (PGE); another started to run at the beginning of pregnancy (GE); and, finally, a control group (CT) was not submitted to exercise. All the rats but those of the CT ran on a treadmill until the delivery day (PND 0). Subsequently, MD was performed from PND 1 to 10. We assessed object recognition (OR) and spatial memory (SM) of female offspring after weaning (PND22, pre-pubertal stage). MD caused OR memory deficit; GE female offspring did not present this deficit, but PGE did. Both PGE and GE alone enhanced offspring spatial learning, but their combination with MD impaired it. MD promoted hippocampal lipid peroxidation increase, which both PGE and GE prevented. Total antioxidant capacity in the hippocampus was higher in both MD-exercised groups compared to all others. Although the antioxidant effects of exercise were similar in both MD exercise groups, we observed better results in the memory tests in the GE group than in the PGE group. These results suggest that starting to exercise during pregnancy is better than reducing the exercise intensity during pregnancy to prevent MD-induced memory deficits in female offspring.

Neuroprotective effects of strength training in a neuroinflammatory animal model.

BACKGROUND: The preventive role of muscular strength on diminishing neuroinflammation is yet unknown. In this study, the role of the prophylactic muscular strength exercise was investigated in order to verify whether it would diminish cognitive alterations and modify the antioxidant intracellular scenery in an animal neuroinflammatory model in of the CA1 region of the hippocampus. METHODS: The animals received muscular strength training (SE) three times a week for eight weeks. Subsequently, the stereotaxic surgery was performed with an intra-hippocampal infusion of either saline solution (SAL) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Next, we performed the behavioral tests: object recognition and social recognition. Then, the animals were euthanized, and their hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were collected. In another moment, we performed the dosage of the antioxidant activity and histological analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the muscular strength exercises could show a beneficial prophylactic effect in the cognitive deficiencies caused by acute neuroinflammation. Regarding oxidative stress, there was an increase in catalase enzyme activity (CAT) in the group (SE + LPS) compared to the control groups (p < 0.05). As for the cognitive alterations, there were found in the (SE + LPS) group, diminishing the mnemonic hazard of the discriminative and social memories compared to the control groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded, therefore, that the exercise performed prophylactically presents a protective effect capable of minimizing such mnemonic deficits and increasing catalase enzyme activity in rats that suffered a local neuroinflammatory process in the hippocampus.

Student assessment of online tools to foster engagement during the COVID-19 quarantine.

As a result of the installation of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 19) pandemic, online education has become an important teaching alternative, and new challenges about how to teach were found. Here we report our experience in offering an online course to review Human Physiology. We proposed synchronous and asynchronous activities using different online tools to address topics considered key to understanding the different systems of human physiology. The students considered important the use of this type of methodology, which uses different online tools to help understand the Human Physiology contents. The students highlighted the use of the Lt platform, Zoom, Mentimeter, and YouTube as the preferred online tools to use in physiology learning.

On the role of the dopaminergic system in the memory deficits induced by maternal deprivation.

Previous researches showed that maternal deprivation (MD) leads to memory deficits that persist until adulthood. The hippocampus, an important brain structure involved in memory processes, receives dopaminergic afferents from other brain areas that modulate memory. Here we demonstrated that MD results in object recognition memory deficits that are reverted by intra-hippocampal stimulation of D1-dopaminergic receptor and peripheral administration of a dopamine precursor. The D1-dopaminergic receptor and peripheral administration of a dopamine precursor also promoted memory persistence in control rats.

One-single physical exercise session after object recognition learning promotes memory persistence through hippocampal noradrenergic mechanisms.

Previously we showed the involvement of the hippocampal noradrenergic system in the consolidation and persistence of object recognition (OR) memory. Here we show that one-single physical exercise session performed immediately after learning promotes OR memory persistence and increases norepinephrine levels in the hippocampus. Additionally, effects of exercise on memory are avoided by an intra-hippocampal beta-adrenergic antagonist infusion. Taken together, these results suggest that exercise effects on memory can be related to noradrenergic mechanisms and acute physical exercise can be a non-pharmacological intervention to assist memory consolidation and persistence, with few or no side effects.