Endurance factors improve hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory in mice

  1. Henriette van Praag1
  1. Neuroplasticity and Behavior Unit, Laboratory of Neurosciences, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging (NIA), Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA

    Abstract

    Physical activity improves learning and hippocampal neurogenesis. It is unknown whether compounds that increase endurance in muscle also enhance cognition. We investigated the effects of endurance factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ agonist GW501516 and AICAR, activator of AMP-activated protein kinase on memory and neurogenesis. Mice were injected with GW for 7 d or AICAR for 7 or 14 d. Two weeks thereafter mice were tested in the Morris water maze. AICAR (7 d) and GW improved spatial memory. Moreover, AICAR significantly, and GW modestly, elevated dentate gyrus neurogenesis. Thus, pharmacological activation of skeletal muscle may mediate cognitive effects.

    Footnotes

    • 1 Corresponding author.

      E-mail vanpraagh{at}mail.nih.gov.

    • Received September 3, 2010.
    • Accepted October 20, 2010.
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