Evidence for a release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor from the brain during exercise

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evidence for a release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor from the brain during exercise

AU - Rasmussen, Peter

AU - Brassard, Patrice

AU - Adser, Helle

AU - Pedersen, Martin V

AU - Leick, Lotte

AU - Hart, Emma

AU - Secher, Niels H

AU - Pedersen, Bente K

AU - Pilegaard, Henriette

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Animals; Brain Chemistry; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Exercise; Hemoglobins; Humans; Jugular Veins; Male; Mice; Oxygen; RNA; RNA, Messenger; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Young Adult

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has an important role in regulating maintenance, growth and survival of neurons. However, the main source of circulating BDNF in response to exercise is unknown. To identify whether the brain is a source of BDNF during exercise, eight volunteers rowed for 4 h while simultaneous blood samples were obtained from the radial artery and the internal jugular vein. To further identify putative cerebral region(s) responsible for BDNF release, mouse brains were dissected and analysed for BDNF mRNA expression following treadmill exercise. In humans, a BDNF release from the brain was observed at rest (P < 0.05), and increased two- to threefold during exercise (P < 0.05). Both at rest and during exercise, the brain contributed 70-80% of circulating BDNF, while that contribution decreased following 1 h of recovery. In mice, exercise induced a three- to fivefold increase in BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus and cortex, peaking 2 h after the termination of exercise. These results suggest that the brain is a major but not the sole contributor to circulating BDNF. Moreover, the importance of the cortex and hippocampus as a source for plasma BDNF becomes even more prominent in response to exercise.

AB - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has an important role in regulating maintenance, growth and survival of neurons. However, the main source of circulating BDNF in response to exercise is unknown. To identify whether the brain is a source of BDNF during exercise, eight volunteers rowed for 4 h while simultaneous blood samples were obtained from the radial artery and the internal jugular vein. To further identify putative cerebral region(s) responsible for BDNF release, mouse brains were dissected and analysed for BDNF mRNA expression following treadmill exercise. In humans, a BDNF release from the brain was observed at rest (P < 0.05), and increased two- to threefold during exercise (P < 0.05). Both at rest and during exercise, the brain contributed 70-80% of circulating BDNF, while that contribution decreased following 1 h of recovery. In mice, exercise induced a three- to fivefold increase in BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus and cortex, peaking 2 h after the termination of exercise. These results suggest that the brain is a major but not the sole contributor to circulating BDNF. Moreover, the importance of the cortex and hippocampus as a source for plasma BDNF becomes even more prominent in response to exercise.

U2 - 10.1113/expphysiol.2009.048512

DO - 10.1113/expphysiol.2009.048512

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19666694

SN - 0958-0670

VL - 94

SP - 1062

EP - 1069

JO - Experimental Physiology

JF - Experimental Physiology

IS - 10

ER -