Effects of Intrinsic Aerobic Capacity and Ovariectomy on Voluntary Wheel Running and Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine Receptor Gene Expression

Overview

Journal Physiol Behav

Specialties Physiology
Psychiatry
Psychology
Social Sciences

Date 2016 Jun 15

PMID 27297873

Citations 22

Authors

Young-Min Park

Jill A Kanaley

Jaume Padilla

Terese Zidon

Rebecca J Welly

Matthew J Will

Steven L Britton

Lauren G Koch

Gregory N Ruegsegger

Frank W Booth

John P Thyfault

Victoria J Vieira-Potter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Unlabelled: Rats selectively bred for high (HCR) and low (LCR) aerobic capacity show a stark divergence in wheel running behavior, which may be associated with the dopamine (DA) system in the brain. HCR possess greater motivation for voluntary running along with greater brain DA activity compared to LCR. We recently demonstrated that HCR are not immune to ovariectomy (OVX)-associated reductions in spontaneous cage (i.e. locomotor) activity. Whether HCR and LCR rats differ in their OVX-mediated voluntary wheel running response is unknown.

Purpose: To determine whether HCR are protected from OVX-associated reduction in voluntary wheel running.

Methods: Forty female HCR and LCR rats (age ~27weeks) had either SHM or OVX operations, and given access to a running wheel for 11weeks. Weekly wheel running distance was monitored throughout the intervention. Nucleus accumbens (NAc) was assessed for mRNA expression of DA receptors at sacrifice.

Results: Compared to LCR, HCR ran greater distance and had greater ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA mRNA expression (both line main effects, P<0.05). Wheel running distance was significantly, positively correlated with the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA mRNA expression across animals. In both lines, OVX reduced wheel running (P<0.05). Unexpectedly, although HCR started with significantly greater voluntary wheel running, they had greater OVX-induced reduction in wheel running than LCR such that no differences were found 11weeks after OVX between HCROVX and LCROVX (interaction, P<0.05). This significant reduction in wheel running in HCR was associated with an OVX-mediated reduction in the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA mRNA expression.

Conclusion: The DA system in the NAc region may play a significant role in motivation to run in female rats. Compared to LCR, HCR rats run significantly more, which associates with greater ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA mRNA expression. However, despite greater inherent motivation to run and an associated brain DA mRNA expression profile, HCR rats are not protected against OVX-induced reduction in wheel running or OVX-mediated reduction in the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA receptor mRNA expression. OVX-mediated reduction in motivated physical activity may be partially explained by a reduced ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA receptor mRNA expression for which intrinsic fitness does not confer protection.

Citing Articles

Voluntary wheel running access produces opposite effects in male and female rats on both palatable diet consumption and associated ventral striatal opioid- and dopamine-related gene expression.

Kocum C, Cam Y, Shay D, Schweizer T, Konrad E, Houska T Front Integr Neurosci. 2024; 18:1426219.

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Estrogen deficiency reduces maximal running capacity and affects serotonin levels differently in the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens in response to acute exercise.

Lee E, Nissinen T, Yla-Outinen L, Jalkanen A, Karppinen J, Vieira-Potter V Front Neurosci. 2024; 18:1399229.

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Impact of ovariectomy on neurotransmitter receptors BDNF/TrkB and endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperones in rat hypoglossal nucleus.

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Knockdown of Esr1 from DRD1-Rich Brain Regions Affects Adipose Tissue Metabolism: Potential Crosstalk between Nucleus Accumbens and Adipose Tissue.

Shay D, Welly R, Mao J, Kinkade J, Brown J, Rosenfeld C Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(11).

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Marsh M, Oliveira M, Vieira-Potter V Nutrients. 2023; 15(2).

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