Research discovers the neural mechanism that exercise promotes drug rehabilitation

With the support of Su Guohui, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Zhang Li team, an associate researcher of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Central Nervous Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, and the team of Professor Yuan Tifei from the Shanghai Mental Health Center elaborated on the molecular-cell loop mechanism of exercise to promote neurological rehabilitation after detoxification
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Drug addiction is accompanied by synaptic remodeling and functional changes in the cortex, leading to a decline in learning and memory functions
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The researchers further adopted the treadmill aerobic training mode and found that one week of exercise training can effectively enhance the remodeling of cortical pyramidal neuron dendritic spines and synaptic plasticity, reverse the loss of dendritic spines, and improve learning ability
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In order to clarify the relevant neural circuit mechanism, the researchers found through in vivo two-photon calcium imaging technology that continuous cocaine exposure caused a significant decrease in the newborn rate of apical dendritic spines of the fifth layer of pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex of mice, accompanied by excitatory synapses.
The enhancement of transmission and the excessive activity of presynaptic somatostatin-positive interneurons (SST-IN) eventually lead to the imbalance of local excitation-inhibition balance (E/I balance)
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In order to further analyze the molecular mechanism of the remodeling of cortical synaptic function caused by exercise, the researchers explored the changes in different molecular signaling pathways in the cortex and found that exercise can activate the target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the cortex
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This study reveals the mechanism of dendritic structure remodeling and synaptic function alteration of cognitive impairment caused by addictive drugs, and further analyzes the cellular and molecular mechanisms of exercise promoting cognitive function recovery, and provides more theoretical support for the field of exercise and brain health
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It is reported that the experimental work was mainly completed by Cheng Tong, a neurobiology graduate of Jinan University.
Dr.
Huang Xiaodan of Jinan University, doctoral student Hu Xuefei, and undergraduate student Wang Siqi from the School of Life Science and Technology also participated in the project work
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Related paper information: https://doi.