Effects of exercise on ERK-CREB expression in rats with chronic stress

ObjectiveTo probe into the effect of exercise on phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase(p-ERK)and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein(p-CREB)pathway in different cerebral areas in rats with chronic stress.MethodsForty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:control,stress,exercise stress and exercise group.The rat model of chronic stress was made by restraint and the exercise mode by unloading swimming.pERK and p-CREB in the frontal cortex,hippocampus and striatum were examined with immunohistochemistry assays.ResultsCompared with the control group,p-ERK and p-CREB expression in the frontal cortex,hippocampus and striatum were significantly decreased in the stress group(P<0.01).Compared with stress group,exercise stress group showed higher levels of p-ERK and p-CREB with statistical significance in frontal cortex and hippocampus(P<0.05).ConclusionAs an effective protection measure,long-term exercise may enhance learning and memory in condition of chronic stress by upregulating ERK-CREB pathway.