The Effect of Four Weeks of Aerobic Swimming on the Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Tyrosine Receptor Kinase B (TrkB) in the Brain of Animal Model of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis (EAE)

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known as a neuroimmunological disease in human being. The evidences show that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its specific receptor, tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) play a role in the development of multiple sclerosis. Previous studies demonstrated that various interventions affect the expression of these factors. This study aimed to investigate the effect of four weeks of aerobic swimming on the level of BDNF and TrkB in the brain of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) or animal model of multiple sclerosis. Methods: A total number of 80 C57BL/6 mice, aging 10 to 12 weeks and weighing 20 ± 2 gram were divided into eight groups of 10, control, swimming (SW), EAE, EAE + SW, EAE + solvent (SOL), EAE + interferon-beta (IFN), EAE + environment (En) + SOL, and EAE + SW + IFN. On post-immunization day 9, animals received IFN (150 IU/g) or were subjected to swimming daily for 4 weeks (5 days/week). Brains were extracted and the levels of BDNF and TrkB were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Findings: EAE decreased BDNF and increased TrkB level in the brain of EAE-induced mice. Level of BDNF and TrkB increased in mice brain following swimming and IFN treatment; however these alterations were not significant. Conclusion: These findings suggest that probably swimming is more effective than IFN to alter the level of BDNF and TrkB in the brain of EAE-induced mice.