Exercise programs have shown great potential for both the prevention and treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). As exercise has been shown to have potent effects on physical and psychological health, it is reasonable to examine the mechanism of how exercise can be used as an adjunct treatment for addiction. The present study examined the effects of chronic aerobic (treadmill) exercise on both GABA(a) and mu-opioid receptor levels in the brains of male and female rats. GABA(a) receptor binding, measured by [³H] Flunitrazepam, was increased in the cingulate cortex following exercise, but only in females. Mu-opioid receptor expression, measured by [³H] ([D-Ala², N-MePhe⁴, Gly-ol]-enkephalin) (DAMGO), showed no effect of exercise while showing an effect of sex, with increased [³H] DAMGO binding in the brains of sedentary males compared to that of sedentary females. Our findings support the potential role for GABA(a) signaling in the cingulate cortex as part of the mechanism of action of aerobic exercise. These data, along with prior reports, aid our understanding of the neurochemical impact and mechanism of chronic aerobic exercise on neuropsychiatric disease, particularly regarding addiction.

运动计划已显示出预防和治疗药物滥用症（SUD）的巨大潜力。由于锻炼已显示出对身心健康的有效影响，因此有必要研究运动如何作为成瘾的辅助疗法的机制。本研究检查了有氧（跑步机）运动对雄性和雌性大鼠大脑中GABA（a）和μ阿片受体水平的影响。通过[ ³ H]氟硝西m测量的GABA（a）受体结合在运动后的扣带状皮质中增加，但仅在女性中增加。Mu阿片受体的表达，通过[ ³ H]（[D-Ala ²，N-MePhe ⁴，Gly-ol]-脑啡肽（DAMGO）表现出无运动效果，却表现出性别效应，与久坐的女性相比，久坐的男性大脑中[ ³ H] DAMGO的结合增加。我们的发现支持GABA（a）信号在扣带回皮质中作为有氧运动作用机制的一部分的潜在作用。这些数据以及以前的报告有助于我们了解慢性有氧运动对神经精神疾病的神经化学影响和机制，尤其是关于成瘾的问题。