Studies demonstrate that asthma, especially during childhood, affects the functions of the brain including learning and memory. Exercise is well known for its neuroprotective functions and for its beneficial effects on asthma. We aimed to assess the effects of exercise on cognitive function, synaptic plasticity, and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized juvenile rats. Rats were sensitized by intraperitoneal administration and inhaled OVA. Animals were subjected to treadmill running exercise during the OVA-challenged period. T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine [interleukin (IL)-4], Th1 cytokine (INF-γ) levels, and INF-γ/IL-4 (Th1/Th2) ratio in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and tracheal response to methacholine and OVA were measured. Further, memory behaviors and BDNF levels were measured in the hippocampus as well as long-term potentiation (LTP) was assessed by recording field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the hippocampus. The levels of IL-4 and TGF-β were decreased but INF-γ level and INF-γ/IL-4 ratio increased in the BALF due to exercise in the OVA-sensitized animals. In addition, exercise improved OVA-sensitization induced cognitive impairments, increased BDNF levels, and enhanced hippocampal LTP in OVA-sensitized rats. Exercise is not only effective in the alleviation of airway inflammation by restoring Th1/Th2 cytokines balance, but also is a candidate for improvement of memory and synaptic plasticity deficits partially through increasing the levels of hippocampal BDNF in OVA-sensitized rats.

中文翻译：

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跑步机运动可恢复卵清蛋白敏感的幼年大鼠的记忆力和海马突触可塑性损伤：涉及脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）。

研究表明，哮喘，特别是在儿童时期，会影响大脑的功能，包括学习和记忆。运动以其神经保护功能及其对哮喘的有益作用而闻名。我们旨在评估运动对卵清蛋白（OVA）致敏幼年大鼠认知功能，突触可塑性和海马脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）水平的影响。通过腹膜内给药致敏并吸入OVA。在OVA挑战时期，对动物进行了跑步机跑步运动。支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中的T型辅助2型（Th2）细胞因子[白介素（IL）-4]，Th1细胞因子（INF-γ）水平和INF-γ/ IL-4（Th1 / Th2）比测量气管对乙酰甲胆碱和OVA的反应。进一步，在海马中测量记忆行为和BDNF水平，并通过记录海马中的场兴奋性突触后电位（fEPSPs）来评估长期增强（LTP）。由于在OVA致敏动物中运动，BALF中IL-4和TGF-β的水平降低，但INF-γ水平和INF-γ/ IL-4比率升高。此外，在OVA致敏的大鼠中，运动改善了OVA致敏引起的认知障碍，BDNF水平升高和海马LTP增强。运动不仅可以通过恢复Th1 / Th2细胞因子平衡来有效缓解气道炎症，而且可以通过提高OVA致敏大鼠的海马BDNF水平来部分改善记忆力和突触可塑性缺陷。