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Voluntary physical activity versus inactivity reduces dendritic field complexity in putative RVLM cardiovascular neurons
Author(s) -
Mischel Nicholas Ara,
LlewellynSmith Ida J,
Mueller Patrick J
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.927.5
Subject(s) - rostral ventrolateral medulla , tyrosine hydroxylase , medicine , endocrinology , biology , neuroplasticity , chemistry , neuroscience , central nervous system , medulla oblongata , dopamine
Blood pressure regulation relies on neurons in the RVLM and is influenced by regular physical activity. We hypothesized that the morphology of RVLM neurons differs in active vs inactive rats. Rats were housed with and without running wheels for 12 weeks and then cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) was injected into cord segment T10. Double immunoperoxidase labeling for CTB and tyrosine hydroxylase identified bulbospinal C1 neurons. RVLM neurons from 4 active (196 neurons) and 3 sedentary (150 neurons) rats were reconstructed and analyzed using Neurolucida software. Active rats ran 373±90 km. Compared to inactive rats, physically active rats had shorter dendrites (995±54μm vs. 1453±21 μm, p=0.0010), fewer dendritic branches (2.4±0.1 vs. 5.1±0.3, p<0.001) and fewer intersections in Sholl analyses (84±4 vs. 109±1, p<0.01) but cell body area was similar (245±6μm 2 vs. 258±2μm 2 ). These results suggest that physical activity decreases dendritic complexity but does not affect the cell body size of putative RVLM cardiovascular neurons. This morphological plasticity may contribute to differences in cardiovascular regulation in physically active vs sedentary individuals. (F30‐ HL105003 ; NHMRC 1025031; R01‐ HL096787 ).