Exercise improves motor deficits and alters striatal GFAP expression in a 6-OHDA-induced rat model of Parkinson’s disease

Astrocytic changes have been demonstrated in several neurodegenerative diseases, showing that these cells play an important role in functional recovery/maintenance against brain damage. Physical exercise is known to contribute to this process; however, the cellular mechanisms involved are not fully understood. This study investigated the effects of physical exercise on motor deficits and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in a model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Rats were divided into four groups: sham sedentary (SS) and sham trained (ST); lesioned sedentary (LS) and lesioned trained (LT). 6-OHDA was infused unilaterally into the medial forebrain bundle. Behavioral tasks were applied to evaluate motor abilities. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH—in substantia nigra) and GFAP (in striatum) immunoreactivities (ir) were semi-quantified using optical density. The animals submitted to treadmill training completed fewer pharmacological-induced rotations when compared with sedentary animals and they also showed ameliorated motor impairments. Interestingly, although no change in TH-ir, the exercise led to restored striatal GFAP expression in the LT group while there was no effect in the ST group. This study is the first study to show data indicating the recovery of GFAP expression post-exercise in this model and further research is necessary to determine the precise action mechanisms of exercise on astrocytes in the PD.