Effects Of Exercise Training On The Incidence And Hypothalamic-Pituitary-adrenal (HPA) Axis Function Of Ischemic Post-stroke Depression (PSD) Rat

Objective:To observe the changes in behavior and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis function of post-stroke depression(PSD)rat model and the effect of exercise training intervention.Methods:Healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:sham-operation group,cerebral ischemia group,depression group,PSD group,exercise trainning group.Establishing ischemic stroke rat model with reforming Longa method,applying chronic unpredictable mild stimulation and isolation feed to make the rat model of depression,the combination of the above methods were taken to induce PSD rat model in exercise training group with a treadmill training for 4 weeks.We Observed the changes in spontaneous behavior of the rats and investigated the changes of corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),cortisol(Cort)which were related to the HPA axis in rats by using the western-blot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:The body weight(BW)showed the PSD group rats were decreased than sham(P<0.01),PSD group reduced more than in the group of stroke or depression group(P<0.05),The exercise training can increase the body weight(P<0.05).The sugar consumption test(SCT)showed the sugar consumption in depression group,PSD group rats were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01)rather than sham,PSD group reduced more than in the group of stroke or depression group(P<0.05),but the exercise training can increase the sugar consumption(P<0.01).The open field test(OFT)showed the behavior score of vertical and horizontal movements in depression group,PSD group rats were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),PSD group reduced more than in the group of stroke or depression group(P<0.05 or P<0.01);HPA axis hormones as CRH,Cort in depression group,PSD group were hypersecreted(P<0.01),PSD group increased significantly than in the group of the stroke or depression group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The exercise training can increase the OFT score(P<0.05)and reduce the CRH,Cort secretion(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:The pathological basis of cerebral vascular damage and endocrine disorders caused by chronic stress aggravated the HPA axis dysregulation and depressive symptoms.Moderate exercise training may improve the HPA axis abnormalities and decrease the incidence of PSD.