Objective: This study investigates the effects of low-intensity treadmill exercise on motor, cognitive, and gastrointestinal (GI) functions, as well as neuroinflammation and gut microbiota composition, in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: PD is a neurodegenerative disorder with motor and non-motor symptoms, including cognitive decline and GI dysfunction. Current treatments primarily address motor symptoms, highlighting the need for non-pharmacological interventions targeting neuroinflammation and gut dysbiosis.

Method: A rat model for PD was established through stereotaxic surgery, inducing unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions. In this study, we investigated the effects of a 10-week low-intensity treadmill exercise regimen on motor, cognitive, and GI functions, as well as neuroinflammation and gut microbiota composition, in a rat model of PD. Behavioral assessments included rotarod performance and the Morris water maze test. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining was used to evaluate dopaminergic neuronal survival. GI health was assessed through motility tests and tight junction-related gene expression analysis. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in colon. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results: Low-intensity exercise (15 or 30 min/session) significantly improved motor coordination and cognitive performance, as evidenced by enhanced rotarod performance and reduced escape latency in the Morris water maze. TH staining demonstrated that exercise preserved dopaminergic neurons in the striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta, indicating neuroprotection. Additionally, GI health improvements, including enhanced motility and increased ZO-1 expression, were observed, reflecting a strengthening of the intestinal barrier integrity. Exercise also reduced proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in colon, alongside notable changes in the gut microbiota composition.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that low-intensity exercise effectively alleviated motor and non-motor symptoms in PD by modulating the gut-brain axis, providing a promising, accessible, and non-pharmacological approach to PD management.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effects-of-low-intensity-exercise-on-motor-and-non-motor-symptoms-in-a-6-ohda-induced-rat-model-of-parkinsons-disease/