The effects of aerobic exercise training on the age-related lipid peroxidation

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Life Sci. 2008 Feb 11

The effects of aerobic exercise training on the age-related lipid

peroxidation, Schwann cell apoptosis and ultrastructural changes in

the sciatic nerve of rats.

Shokouhi G, Tubbs RS, Shoja MM, Roshangar L, Mesgari M,

Ghorbanihaghjo A, Ahmadi N, Sheikhzadeh F, Rad JS.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences,

Tabriz, Iran; Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz

University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

The potential role of exercise in preventing the age-related

spontaneous peripheral neuropathy has not been studied. We examined

the effects of long-term aerobic exercise training on lipid

peroxidation, Schwann cell (SC) apoptosis and ultrastructural changes

in the sciatic nerve of rats during aging.

Three groups of 12-week old Wistar rats ran on a treadmill for 6, 9

and 12 months (exercise trained (ET) group, n=10 each) according to

an exercise training program targeted at a speed of 22 m/min (at 7

degrees incline), 60 min/day, 6 days/week. Three corresponding groups

of untrained rats were used as the controls (sedentary (SED) group).

At the end of each period, sciatic nerve biopsies were performed, and

processed for biochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural

analyses.

The results showed that aging was associated with an increased level

of nerve malondialdehyde (MDA, marker of lipid peroxidation) and a

higher number of SC apoptosis in SED group. The SED group showed

irregular nerve fibers with thin myelin sheaths and areas of myelin-

axon detachment. However, the ET group had significantly diminished

nerve lipid peroxidation and SC apoptosis. In the ET group, nerve

fibers had a thick myelin sheath with frequent folding.

These findings suggest that aerobic exercise training protects

peripheral nerves by attenuating oxidative reactions, and preserving

SCs and myelin sheath from pathologic changes, which occur during

normal aging.

[Guest guest]

This article appears to be a study of normal rats, not rats with CMT. If so,

the conclusion wouldn't apply to us.

Am I reading it correctly?