Physical exercise promotes neuroprotection structural and functional in rats with cerebral ischemia

Abstract

© 2015, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. All rights reserved. Objetive. The present study investigated the engine performance and of volume of cerebral infarction in sedentary rats or who practiced physical exercise before and after cerebral ischemia, promoted by transitory middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Method. Fortyeight rats were randomized into two groups, one subjected to MCAO and the other on the absence of ischemia. Both groups were subdivided into AI (n=6): animals that did exercise prior to MCAO; DI (n=6): animals that did exercise after MCAO; ADI (n=6): animals that did exercise before and after MCAO and SI (n=6): animals that did not exercise. Physical training was performed on the mat for 6 weeks (30min/day), 5 days a week. Results. The results showed weight loss in animals of group SI after the MCAO procedure (81 days) and at the end of the experiment the of ADI group (p < 0.0001). The animals in groups AI and ADI showed lower frequency of errors in the test misstep and parallel bars in 76 days. Conclusion. At the end of the experiment the ADI group showed better motor performance in functional tests and reduced volume of cerebral infarction.