The Effect of Aerobic Exercise and Caloric Restriction on Mice's Brain Tissue PGC-1α Levels and Their Memory Abilities

Brain degeneration due to oxidative stress will have an impact on cognitive function decline. Aerobic exercise and calorie restriction are equally believed to increase the ability of cells to inhibit the effects of oxidative stress in the brain. Mitochondria are very susceptible to damage due to oxidative stress. Survival ability of mitochondria can be seen by measuring the levels of the PGC-1α protein, which regulates the transcription of mitochondrial biogenesis in brain tissue. A study has been conducted to compare the effects of aerobic exercise and calorie restriction for 8 weeks on PGC-1α levels of brain tissue of mice and their spatial memory. A total of 24 male mice, aged 6 weeks, were divided into 4 groups: control, aerobic exercise (AE), calorie restriction (CR), and a combination of AE + CR. The exercise was done by running in running wheels, every day for 40 minutes at a speed of 10 m / min. Calorie restriction was done by feeding mice as much as 70% of the calories of food consumed by ad libitum. The CR group had a PGC-1a levels and spatial memory higher than the control. The AE group and the combination of AE + CR had PGC-1a levels and spatial memory higher than the CR group, and both groups have no differences. Physical exercise accompanied with calorie restriction or only physical exercise have better effects on brain's PGC-1a and spatial memory compared with only caloric restriction.