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Cognitive and motor effects of endurance related compound AICAR: from muscle to brain
Author(s) -
Kobilo Tali,
Praag Henriette
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.847.2
Subject(s) - neurogenesis , ampk , hippocampus , skeletal muscle , motor coordination , neuroscience , open field , endocrinology , cognition , medicine , psychology , biology , biochemistry , protein kinase a , enzyme
Neurogenesis occurs in the hippocampus, a crucial structure for cognition. Running increases neurogenesis and improves memory. The mechanisms underlying these benefits remain undefined. Transcriptional factors regulating muscle fiber metabolic genes were identified. AMPK is important for mitochondria function and exercise physiology. The agonist AICAR enhanced endurance. The possibility that peripheral triggers, such as skeletal muscle activation as a result of exercise or pharmacological agents, underlies cognitive effects of exercise, has not been explored. Mice were injected with AICAR for 7 or 14 days. Two weeks later mice were trained in water maze, open field and rotarod. In young mice 7 days of AICAR increased spatial memory, cell survival and percentage of new neurons in the hippocampus. The effects of AICAR were clearly dependent on the duration of administration. In aged mice, 14 days of injections improved motor abilities and cognition, correlated with findings that AMPK activity declines with aging in skeletal muscle. Microarray analysis revealed effects on metabolic processes and muscle composition. Thus, we show that endurance related compounds confer CNS benefits.