Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Samira Rostami ¹
• Abbas Haghparast ²
• Rana Fayazmilani ³

¹ Ph.D. Student in Exercise Physiology, Shahid Beheshti University

² Professor of Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

³ Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology, Shahid Beheshti University

Abstract

It is important to maintain the structure and function of the brain throughout life. The key brain development processes occur in the critical periods, especially in the pre-pubertal period. Thus, environmental interventions during this critical period may lead to significant and lasting changes in the developing structures such as the hippocampus. Here, we studied the effect of combined training and play in an enriched environment during pre-pubertal period on the hippocampal structure of adult rats. For this purpose, a longitudinal study was performed. After weaning, 27 male rats were divided into three groups of combined training, play in an enriched environment, and control. Interventions were performed for three weeks (28-48 postnatal days). Subsequently, all animals were kept without intervention in the standard cages until adulthood (48-85 postnatal days). After this period, the animals were sacrificed and hippocampal tissues were removed. Western blotting and Nissl staining methods were used to assess Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the number of cells in the hippocampus, respectively. The results showed that BDNF levels (P

Keywords

• Brain Development
• Combined Training
• Play in an Enriched Environment
• Pre-pubertal Period

Main Subjects

• Neural and muscular