Background and Objective: Oligodendroglia in the brain strongly responds to exercise. However, innate immunity is vital to maintain normal brain function. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of simple and complex voluntary exercises on NG2 changes and depression in rats with Alzheimer's disease.
Material and Method: For this purpose, 60 male Wistar rats (4-6 weeks old) were randomly divided into six groups (Control-Healthy, Control-Alzheimer, Simple Training-Healthy, Complex Training-Healthy, Simple Training-Alzheimer, Complex Training-Alzheimer). After induction of Alzheimer's disease by Streptozotocin injection into the ventricles of the brain, the animals experienced simple and complex voluntary activity using a wheel running for twelve weeks. At the end, depression was checked by food deprivation test, and after slaughter, NG2 levels of hippocampus and motor cortex were checked by ELISA method. Data were compared using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test.
Results: Compared to simple spinning wheel training, complex wheel running training increased hippocampus NG2, motor cortex NG2 levels and reduced depression (P<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that performing exercises that are associated with mental challenge have a higher effectiveness in relation to depression and NG2 levels.