The effect of low- and moderate-intensity interval training on cognitive behaviors of male and female rats with VPA-induced autism

Abstract

<h3><br></h3><h3>Introduction</h3><p>This study was performed to evaluate the effects of low and moderate <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/treadmill-exercise" title="Learn more about treadmill exercise from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">treadmill exercise</a> for one month on <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/social-interaction" title="Learn more about social interaction from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">social interaction</a>, anxiety-like <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/behavior-neuroscience" title="Learn more about behaviors from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">behaviors</a>, and spatial <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/learning-and-memory" title="Learn more about learning and memory from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">learning and memory</a> in male and female autistic <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/rat" title="Learn more about rats from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">rats</a>.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Pregnant rats received <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/sodium-valproate" title="Learn more about valproic acid from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">valproic acid</a> (VPA) (600 mg/kg/i.p) once on gestational day 12.5 to induce autism-like symptoms in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/child" title="Learn more about offspring from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">offspring</a>. After delivery, the offspring were divided into six main groups, each with male and female subgroups: Control (CTL, prenatal normal saline), <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/pervasive-developmental-disorder" title="Learn more about autism from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">autism</a> (prenatal VPA), low-intensity training (LIT,normal saline + low treadmill exercise), moderate -intensity training (MIT, normal saline + moderate treadmill exercise), VPA + LIT, and VPA + MIT. On the 60th day, the offspring were tested by the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/elevated-plus-maze" title="Learn more about elevated plus maze from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">elevated plus maze</a> (EPM), open field test (OFT), social interaction test (SIT), and Morris <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/water-maze" title="Learn more about water maze from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">water maze</a> (MWM).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The results showed that both LIT and MIT could partly alleviate anxiety-like behaviors induced by prenatal VPA exposure in two sexes. Social impairment was observed in the autistic rats and was improved by LIT in both sexes and MIT in females. No significant change was seen in the spatial learning and memory of autistic rats by exercise.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The findings suggest that treadmill exercise can be helpful for improving some autism-like behaviors. Further studies are needed to investigate the involved mechanisms.</p><ul><li>​​​​​​​</li></ul>