Abstract
Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic training on consolidation of spatial memory and CREB protein index in the hippocampal tissue of Sleep deprived Young Rats.
Methodology: For this purpose, 40 Wistar healthy young male rats were randomly assigned into four groups: sedentary/normal sleep control group (Cr), sedentary/sleep deprived (Sd), physical activity/normal sleep (Ph/Ns) and physical activity/ sleep deprived (Ph/Sd). Physical activity included four weeks of aerobic training by running on treadmill. Aerobic training was such that the rats ran in the first and second weeks, for 5 days in 2 sets of 15 minutes at a speed of 10 meters per minute, the third week 3 sets of 15 minutes at a speed of 15 meters per minute and the fourth week 4 sets of 15 minutes at a speed of 15 meters per minute on a treadmill with a zero-degree slope. After the end of the aerobic training protocol, the acquisition stage was in Morris water maze. Then, the animals in the Sd and Ph/Sd groups were placed on a multiple platform device for 24 hours. The spatial memory consolidation was tested after 24 hours of sleep deprivation. The western blot technique was used to measure the CERB protein index in the hippocampus.
Results: Regarding spatial memory, the findings indicated that physical activity improves the acquisition and consolidation of spatial memory while sleep deprivation destroyed the spatial memory (ps ˂ .05). However, physical activity prevented the destruction of spatial memory consolidation due to sleep deprivation. In addition, physical activity increased the expression of CERB protein while sleep deprivation had no significant effect on the expression of CERB protein. However, the effect of physical activity on the expression of CERB protein in the sleep deprived rats was significant (P < .05).
Conclusion: It seems that aerobic training on treadmill can be used to prevent the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on the spatial memory consolidation.