The brain continues to generate new neurons in the hippocampus throughout adulthood. The process of neurogenesis is influenced by environmental factors such as learning, stress, spatial complexity, and physical activity. The proposed research will explore the control of neurogenesis by wheel running activity, and investigate the temporal and physiological parameters of this phenomenon. In addition, the volitional aspect of exercise will be examined using forced treadmill and voluntary running wheel activity. The thymidine analog 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is typically used in studies of cell proliferation and survival in the hippocampus. However, when studying environmental factors that elevate the circulatory system, the issue of availability causes difficulty in interpretation of results. To this end, immunolabeling for the endogenous markers Ki-67 and phospho-histone H3 will be applied to provide a measure of exercise-induced neurogenesis that is not affected by systemic elevation. Physical activity has been correlated with a lower incidence of dementia in older adults, and the data from studies of exercise-induced neurogenesis may one day be applied to the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative disease. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31AG024690-02
Application #
6914867
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F10 (29))
Program Officer
Wise, Bradley C
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2008-06-30
Budget Start
2005-07-01
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$43,154
Indirect Cost
Name
Princeton University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
002484665
City
Princeton
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
08544
Stranahan, Alexis M (2011) Similarities and differences in spatial learning and object recognition between young male C57Bl/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. Behav Neurosci 125:791-5
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Stranahan, Alexis M; Arumugam, Thiruma V; Mattson, Mark P (2011) Lowering corticosterone levels reinstates hippocampal brain-derived neurotropic factor and Trkb expression without influencing deficits in hypothalamic brain-derived neurotropic factor expression in leptin receptor-deficient mice. Neuroendocrinology 93:58-64
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Stranahan, Alexis M; Khalil, David; Gould, Elizabeth (2007) Running induces widespread structural alterations in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. Hippocampus 17:1017-22