| Abstract No.: | C-B3051 |
| Country: | Canada |
| | |
| Title: | EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF VOLUNTARY RUNNING ON NEURAL PRECURSOR POPULATIONS OF THE ADULT NERVOUS SYSTEM |
| | |
| Authors/Affiliations: | 1 Vinh Truong; 1 Anne Aumont; 1 Simon Décary, 1 Raynald Bergeron; 1 Karl Fernandes*;
1 University of Montreal, Département de Pathologie et biologie cellulaire et le Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, QC, Canada
|
| | |
| Content: | Neural precursors are crucial for the maintenance of neuronal and glial populations in the adult central nervous system (CNS). A greater understanding of how their biology is regulated by physiological processes may be relevant to the development of therapies against adult-onset and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. In this regard, previous studies have shown that proliferation and neurogenesis increase within the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus when rodents are given access to a running wheel. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the extent and cell biological basis of the effects of voluntary physical activity on specific sub-populations of CNS precursors and their niches. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We are currently establishing and characterizing a voluntary wheel-running paradigm. Cohorts of standard-housed adult mice are transferred to computer-monitored cages equipped with running wheels. Mice are sacrificed after various durations of housing in standard versus exercise housing conditions, and their CNS tissues examined using in vitro and in vivo neural precursor assays. RESULTS: Analysis of the hippocampus indicates that we can reproduce published findings of increased hippocampal neurogenesis in adult exercising mice, successfully validating our voluntary wheel-running paradigm. We have therefore begun analysing the properties and activity of sub-types of neural precursors found in various stem cell niches of the adult CNS. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that this work will eventually lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of physical activity on endogenous neural precursors and, more generally, on CNS plasticity. Supported by funds from the CIHR, CFI, Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada, and the Université de Montréal. |
| | |
| Back |
|
