Neuroprotective Effects of Voluntary Exercise in an Inherited Retinal Degeneration XXXX Model.

@entity2000 @entity19 @entity6391 @entity26304 @entity989 @entity27763
PURPOSE: Our previous investigations showed that involuntary treadmill exercise is neuroprotective in a light-induced @entity2000 @entity19 model, and it may act through activation of @entity26304 ( @entity26304 ) receptors. This study investigated whether voluntary running wheel exercise can be neuroprotective in an inheritable model of the @entity989 ( @entity6391 ), @entity27763 @entity19 . METHODS: Breeding pairs of @entity27763 and C57BL/6J @entity19 were given free-spinning (active) or locked (inactive) running wheels. Pups were weaned into separate cages with their parents' respective wheel types, and visual function was tested with ERG and a virtual optokinetic system at 4, 5, and 6 weeks of age. Offspring were killed at 6 weeks of age and retinal cross-sections were prepared for photoreceptor nuclei counting. Additionally, separate cohorts of active and inactive @entity27763 pups were injected daily for 14 days after eye opening with a selective @entity26304 receptor antagonist (ANA-12) or vehicle solution and assessed as described above. RESULTS: @entity19 in the @entity27763 active group exhibited significant preservation of visual acuity, cone nuclei, and total photoreceptor nuclei number. Injection with ANA-12 precluded the preservation of visual acuity and photoreceptor nuclei number in @entity27763 @entity19 . CONCLUSIONS: Voluntary running partially protected against the @entity2000 that otherwise occurs in the @entity27763 @entity19 model of @entity6391 . This protection was prevented by injection of ANA-12, suggesting that @entity26304 activation mediates exercise's preservation of the retina. Exercise may serve as an effective, clinically translational intervention against @entity2000 .
