Treadmill exercise increases cell proliferation in hippocampal dentate gyrus in alcohol-intoxicated rats

Aim. Effect of treadmill exercise on hippocampal cell proliferation under normal conditions has been well documented; however, this effect under alcohol intoxication conditions is not clarified, yet. In the present study, the effect of treadmill exercise on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus in alcohol-intoxicated rats was investigated. Methods. Experimental design: comparative investigation on number of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells in the dentate gyrus 8 days after commencement. Setting: animal laboratory. Participants: male Sprague-Dawley rats of 5 weeks in age weighing 150±10 g. Intervention: animals were divided into 4 groups: the control-rest group, the control-exercise group, the alcohol-treated-rest group, and the alcohol-treated-exercise group. Animals of the alcohol-treated groups were injected intraperitoneally with alcohol (2 g/kg) once a day for 3 days. All animals were injected BrdU (50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, and rats of exercise groups were made to run on treadmill for 30 min each day for 5 days following alcohol administration. Measures: mean number of BrdU-positive cells in dentate gyrus was observed via immunohistochemistry. Results. Treadmill exercise significantly increased the number of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus. Also, treatment with alcohol for 3 days inhibited cell proliferation and treadmill exercise alleviated alcohol-induced inhibition of new cell formation. Conclusion. These results suggest the possibility that treadmill exercise may help in improvement following alcohol-induced brain damage.