Effects of Aerobic Interval Training Along Ginkgo Biloba Supplementation on Passive Avoidance Memory and GDNF Gene Expression in Alzheimer

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, resulting in memory loss. It is a complex and progressive neurodegenerative disease. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic interval training (AIT) with ginkgo biloba (GB) supplementation on passive avoidance memory function and the expression of the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene in rats with AD. Methods: forty-four male Wistar rats weighing 250±20 grams were kept in a controlled environment at a specific temperature. They underwent AIT and received GB supplements (100 mg/kg) for 8 weeks (5 days per week). The rats were randomly divided into six groups: healthy control (HC) (7 rats), AD control (AC) (8 rats), amyloid-β (Aβ) injection+GB supplement (Aβ+GB) (8 rats), Aβ injection+GB supplement+AIT (Aβ+GB+AIT) (8 rats), Aβ injection+AIT (Aβ+AIT) (8 rats), and sham surgery (SS) (5 rats). The shuttlebox apparatus was used to assess the impact of Aβ on passive avoidance memory and disease induction. GDNF gene expression was analyzed using the qRT-PCR method. Results: After 8 weeks of AIT and GB supplementation, passive avoidance memory significantly improved in the Aβ+AIT and Aβ+GB+AIT groups compared to the AC group (p=0.02, p=0.000 respectively). Long-term memory performance improved in the Aβ+GB+AIT group (p=0.000). The expression of GDNF significantly improved in the Aβ+GB+AIT and Aβ+GB groups compared to the AC group (p=0.000, p=0.01 respectively). Conclusion: The synergistic effect of AIT and GB supplementation increased GDNF gene expression, improved passive avoidance memory and long-term memory in male rats with AD.