EFFECTS OF TREADMILL EXERCISE ON THE EXPRESSION OF NETRIN-1 AND ITS RECEPTORS IN RAT BRAIN AFTER CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that exercise improves functional outcome in animal models of cerebral ischemia. Since netrin-1 and its receptors, deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and uncoordinated gene 5B (Unc5B), act as important regulators in neural and vascular activities, we sought to determine whether netrin-1 and DCC and Unc5B are involved in the neuroprotective effects of exercise on rats with induced cerebral ischemia. A total of 108 rats were randomly distributed into three groups: sham-operated group ( n =12), middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group ( n =48), MCAO+treadmill exercise group ( n =48). Behavioral testing indicated that treadmill exercise could significantly improve neurologic deficits of rats with cerebral ischemia at day 14 and 28 after MCAO ( n =12, P P n =4, P P