Sarah
Biedermann1, Johannes Fuss2, Claudia Falfn-Melgoza3,
Lei Zheng3, Alexander Sartorius3, Gabi Ende1,
Peter Gass2, Wolfgang Weber-Fahr3
1Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; 2Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; 3Translational Imaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
To reveal underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced gray matter increase, mice underwent hippocampal irradiation, blocking hippocampal neurogenesis, followed by voluntary wheel-running. Voxel based morphometry was performed before and after the exercise period. Age related decreased hippocampal gray matter was seen in all mice after the treatment period. Sham irradiated running mice had higher hippocampal gray matter compared to sedentary mice and a decreased loss of hippocampal gray matter over time, whereas irradiated mice did not have higher hippocampal gray matter after exercise. These findings indicate mechanisms of neuroplasticity in exercise induced hippocampal alterations.