PI3K-Akt-Wnt Pathway Is Implicated in Exercise-Induced Improvement of Short-term Memory in Cerebral Palsy Rats

Article information

Int Neurourol J. 2018;22(Suppl 3):S156-164
Publication date (electronic) : 2018 October 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.5213/inj.1836224.112
1Department of Physical Therapy, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
2Department of Physical Therapy, Hosan University, Gyeongsan, Korea
3Department of Sports Healthcare, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Inje University, Gimhae, Korea
4Department of Golf Mapping, College of Arts Physical Education, Joongbu University, Geumsan, Korea
5Division of Leisure & Sports Science, Department of Exercise Prescription, Dongseo University, Busan, Korea
6Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gandong, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
7Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyung Hee Medical Center, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
Corresponding author: Jin-Hee Han http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0399-1148 Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyung Hee Medical Center, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 23 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 02447, Korea E-mail: esthesi@khu.ac.kr / Tel: +82-2-958-8589 / Fax: +82-2-958-8580
Received 2018 September 1; Accepted 2018 October 7.

Abstract

Purpose

Maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection induces neurodevelopmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy. Exercise activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway that enhances neurogenesis. Wnt ligands are also implicated in the hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a downstream molecule of Akt, and GSK-3β is known to modulate hippocampal neurogenesis negatively.

Methods

Cerebral palsy was made by maternal LPS-injection. On the 5 weeks after birth, treadmill running was applied to the rat pups of the exercise groups, for 30 minutes, 5 times a week during 6 weeks.

Results

Treadmill running alleviated short-term memory impairments of the cerebral palsy rat pups. Hippocampal cell proliferation was increased and hippocampal apoptosis was suppressed by treadmill running in the cerebral palsy rat pups. Hippocampal phosphorylated-PI3K/PI3K ratio, phosphorylated-Akt/Akt ratio, and Wnt expression were enhanced by treadmill running in the cerebral palsy rat pups. In contrast, hippocampal phosphorylated-GSK-3β/GSK-3β ratio and β-catenin expression were suppressed by treadmill running in the cerebral palsy rat pups.

Conclusions

The results of this study showed that short-term memory improvement due to treadmill running in cerebral palsy occurs via activation of the PI3K-Akt-Wnt pathway.

• HIGHLIGHTS

- Treadmill running alleviated short-term memory impairments in the cerebral palsy rat pups.

- Treadmill running facilitated hippocampal cell proliferation and reduced hippocampal apoptosis of cerebral palsy rat pups.

- Exercise-induced improvement of short-term memory in cerebral palsy occurs through PI3K-Akt-Wnt pathway.

INTRODUCTION

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one of the important structural elements found in the gram-negative bacteria, and LPS has been used to make an inflammatory animal model. Maternal LPS injection induces neurodevelopmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy [1,2]. Cerebral palsy is a static neurological condition and characterized by motor deficits and cognitive impairments [3].

Apoptosis recognized as an essential step in the nerve development and naturally occurring nerve cell death, however, excessive apoptosis causes diverse neuropsychiatric disorders [4-7]. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining has been used as a tool for the detection of DNA fragmentation, and then TINEL-positive cells represent apoptotic cell death [4,6]. Physical exercise increases neurotrophic factors, facilitates neurogenesis, decreases apoptosis, and then improves cognitive function [4,5,7]. Treadmill running for 12 weeks increased cerebral blood flow, which resulted in enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis [8].

Exercise is known to promote the production of neurons by activating the signaling pathway of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) [2,9]. Akt is a downstream molecule of PI3K, which regulates cell proliferation, cell survival, and metabolism [10]. Wnt-3 is a proto-oncogene protein in humans, and Wnt-3 is encoded by the WNT3 gene. Wnt signaling modulates diverse biological pathway and has relation with many developmental diseases [11,12]. Wnt ligands are also implicated in the hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity [13], and this pathway is activated by physical exercise [12,14]. Stranahan et al. [15] showed that enhanced Wnt expression in the hippocampus after voluntary exercise improved hippocampal plasticity and cognitive function. Overexpression of hippocampal Wnt increased neurogenesis, meanwhile, inhibition of Wnt pathway suppressed neurogenesis [16]. Tiwari et al. [17] suggested that control of hippocampal neurogenesis is closely related with the activity of PI3K-Akt-Wnt signaling pathway.

Hippocampal neurogenesis is negatively affected by glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) [18]. GSK-3β is a downstream molecule of Akt-mediated signal transduction, and activation of Akt signaling suppresses phosphorylation of GSK-3β. [10]. Physical exercise facilitates Akt activity and decreases GSK-3β expression [19]. β-Catenin is a primary molecule of Wnt signaling pathway, and GSK-3β is critically implicated in the Wnt pathway [20]. Destruction cycle of neural cells is initiated by phosphorylation of β-catenin through GSK-3β [21]. When Wnt pathway acts on neural cells, Wnt inhibits GSK-3β, thereby stabilizes and decreases expression of β-catenin [18].

Using the rat pups, we investigated the effect of treadmill running on cerebral palsy-induced short-term memory impairments. We also evaluated whether PI3K-Akt-Wnt pathway is associated with the exercise-induced improvement of short-term memory of the cerebral palsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Treatments of Animals

All animal experimental procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Kyung Hee University (KHUASP[SE]-16-108), and performed in accordance with the National Institute of Health Council for the management and use of laboratory animals. Sprague-Dawley female rats (190±5 g, 9 weeks in age, n=12) were mated with male rats (190±5 g, 9 weeks in age, n=12) during one day. And then, the female rats were housed at home cages individually under the controlled conditions (temperature: 20℃±2℃, lights on from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM).

As the previously described method [2], offspring with cerebral palsy were made. The pregnant rats were classified as control and LPS-injection group (n=6 for each group). One mL of 0.15 mg/kg LPS (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO, USA) diluted in pyrogen-free saline (PFS) was intracervical injected to the pregnant rats in the maternal LPS-injection group, during the 15th, 17th, and 20th day of pregnancy. For the pregnant rats of the control group, PFS was injected. After delivery, the rat pups were re-grouped as control, exercise, cerebral palsy, and cerebral palsy and exercise group (n=8).

Treadmill Running Protocol

On the 5 weeks after delivery, treadmill running for 30 minutes per a day, 5 times per a week, for 6 weeks was conducted in the rat pups of the exercise groups. The load speed was running at 2 m/min during 5 minutes, at 5 m/min speed during 5 minutes, and at 8 m/min during 20 minutes with no inclination.

Step-Down Avoidance Task

By the previously performed method [7,22], short-term memory was determined by step-down avoidance task. The rat pups positioned and took rest on the platform (7 cm×25 cm with a height of 2.5 cm) during 1 minute. The platform consists of a 42 cm×25 cm grid of 0.1-cm diameter stainless steel bars parallel to each other at 1-cm intervals. For the training of the rat pups, scramble foot shock at 0.5 mA for 2 seconds was applied to the rat pups when immediately coming down from the platform. At 48 hours after training session, retention time was determined. The latency was calculated as the time from when the rats descended from the platform and all 4 feet reached the grid. Latency greater than 300 seconds was calculated as 300 seconds.

Tissue Preparation

Zoletil 50 (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally; Vibac Laboratories, Carros, France) was used to anesthetized the rat pups. After that, 50mM phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was transcardially perfused, and then the rat pups were subsequently fixed by 500mM phosphate buffer (pH, 7.4) containing 4% paraformaldehyde. After the brains were removed, the brains were fixed using the same fixation solution during overnight. And then, the brains were treated with a 30% sucrose solution for cryoprotection. By a freezing microtome (Leica, Nussloch, Germany), coronal sections of 40 μm were made.

TUNEL Staining

As the previously described method [6,22], TUNEL staining was conducted by an In Situ Cell Death Detection Kit (Roche, Mannheim, Germany). The brain sections were treated with 10mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH, 8.0) at 55℃ for 30 minutes, treated with proteinase K (100 μg/mL), treated with 3% H2O2, permeabilized with 0.5% Triton X-100, and then treated with a TUNEL reaction mixture. By the Converter-POD with 0.03% 3,3’-diaminobenzidine (DAB), the sections were visualized. After the slides were dried under the room conditions, Permount (Fisher Scientific, Fair Lawn, NJ, USA) was used for the coverslips mounting.

Immunohistochemistry for 5-Bromo-2’-Deoxyuridine

As the previously described method [4,22], 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry was performed. The brain sections were treated with 0.5% Trioton X-100 in PBS for 20 minutes, treated with 50% formamide-2 x standard saline citrate at 65℃ for 2 hours, treated with 2 N HCl at 37℃ for 30 minutes, and then treated with 100mM sodium borate (pH, 8.5). The sections were treated with mouse monoclonal anti-BrdU antibody (1:600; Roche) during overnight at 4℃, treated with biotionylated mouse secondary antibody (1:200; Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA, USA) for 90 minutes, and treated with avidin-peroxidase complex (1:100; Vector Laboratories). To visualize, the section was treated with 50mM Tris-HC1 (pH, 7.6) in 0.02% DAB, 40-mg/mL nickel chloride, and 0.03% H2O2 during 5 minutes. With a mouse monoclonal anti-neuronal nucleic antibody (1:300; Chemicon International, Temecula, CA, USA), counter-staining was conducted upon the same sections. After the slides were dried under the room conditions, Permount (Fisher Scientific) was used for the coverslips mounting.

Under the light microscope (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), BrdU-positive cell number in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was hemilaterally detected. After measuring the dentate gyrus area by the Image-Pro Plus image analysis system (Media Cybernetics Inc., Silver Sprng, MD, USA), BrdU-positive cell number was presented as the number of cells per mm2 of the dentate gyrus.

Western Blot Analysis

As the previously described method [2,6], Western blotting was performed. After transferring proteins onto nitrocellulose, the blots were probed. As the primary antibodies, mouse monoclonal anti-Wnt-3 antibody (1:1,000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA, USA), mouse monoclonal anti-PI3K antibody (1:1,000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology), rabbit polyclonal anti-p-PI3K antibody (1:1,000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology), rabbit polyclonal anti-Akt antibody (1:1,000, Cell Signaling Technology Inc., Beverly, Massachusetts, USA), rabbit polyclonal anti-p-Akt antibody (1:1,000, Cell Signaling Technology), rabbit polyclonal anti-GSK-3β antibody (1:1,000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology), rabbit polyclonal anti-p-GSK-3β antibody (1:1,000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology), and mouse monoclonal anti-β-catenin antibody (1:1000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology) were used. For the secondary antibodies, peroxidase anti-rabbit IgG antibody (1:5,000, Vector Laboratories) and peroxidase anti-mouse IgG antibody (1:10,000, Vector Laboratories) were used. For the detection of immunoreactivity, we used enhanced chemiluminescence detection kit (Santa Cruz Biotechnology).

Results Analysis

For the statistical analysis, 1-way analysis of variance with the Duncan post hoc test was performed. Mean±standard error of the mean was presented for the expression of results, and P<0.05 was determined as a statistical significance.

RESULTS

Short-term Memory

Fig. 1 is data of the short-term memory determined by step-down avoidance task. The latency of the cerebral palsy rat pups was less than the normal rat pups (P<0.05), meanwhile, treadmill running lengthen this latency of the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05).

Fig. 1.

Effect of treadmill exercise on the short-term memory. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Hippocampal Cell Proliferation

Fig. 2 is photomicrographs showing hippocampal BrdU-positive cells. BrdU-positive cell number in the cerebral palsy rat pups was less than the normal rat pups (P<0.05), meanwhile, treadmill running enlarged this number of the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05).

Fig. 2.

Effect of treadmill exercise on cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Upper panel: Photomicrographs of 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. The scale bar represents 200 µm. Lower panel: Number of BrdU-positive cells in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P <0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Hippocampal DNA Fragmentation

Fig. 3 is photomicrographs showing hippocampal TUNEL-positive cells. TUNEL-positive cell number in the cerebral palsy rat pup was higher than the normal rat pups (P<0.05), meanwhile, treadmill running lessened this number of the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05).

Fig. 3.

Effect of treadmill exercise on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Upper panel: Photomicrographs of TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. The scale bar represents 200 µm. Lower panel: Number of TUNEL-positive cells in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P <0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Hippocampal PI3K and p-PI3K Expression

Fig. 4 is Western blot analysis showing hippocampal PI3K and p-PI3K expression. The p-PI3K/PI3K ratio was less in the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05), meanwhile, treadmill running enlarged p-PI3K/PI3K ratio by facilitating p-PI3K expression of the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05).

Fig. 4.

Effect of treadmill exercise on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K) expressions in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expressions of PI3K and p-PI3K in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative PI3K and p-PI3K ratio in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Hippocampal Akt and p-Akt Expression

Fig. 5 is Western blot analysis showing hippocampal Akt and p-Akt expression. The p-Akt/Akt ratio was less in the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05), meanwhile, treadmill running enlarged p-Akt/Akt ratio by increasing p-PI3K expression of the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05).

Fig. 5.

Effect of treadmill exercise on protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) expressions in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expressions of Akt and p-Akt in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative Akt and p-Akt ratio in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Hippocampal Wnt-3 Expression

Fig. 6 is Western blot analysis showing hippocampal Wnt-3 expression. The Wnt-3 expression was less in the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05), meanwhile, treadmill running enlarged Wnt-3 expression of the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05).

Fig. 6.

Effect of treadmill exercise on Wnt-3 expression in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expressions of Wnt3 and β-actin in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative Wnt-3 expressions in each group. A, Control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Hippocampal GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β Expression

Fig. 7 is Western blot analysis showing hippocampal GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β expression. The p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β ratio was higher in the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05), meanwhile, treadmill running lessened p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β ratio by decreasing p-GSK-3β expression of the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05).

Fig. 7.

Effects of treadmill exercise on glycogen synthase kinase3β (GSK-3β) and phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) expressions in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expressions of GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative GSK-3β/p-GSK-3β ratio in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Hippocampal β-Catenin Expression

Fig. 8 is Western blot analysis showing hippocampal β-catenin expression. The β-catenin expression was higher in the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05), meanwhile, treadmill running lessened β-catenin expression of the cerebral palsy rat pups (P<0.05).

Fig. 8.

Effects of treadmill exercise on β-catenin expression in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expression of β-catenin and β-actin in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative β-catenin expressions in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

DISCUSSION

LPS-induced maternal infection is a common cause of preterm birth and neonatal complications [1,2]. Hippocampus-dependent functions, such as learning and memory, was deteriorated following LPS injection [23]. Hao et al. [24] reported that maternal exposure to LPS induced memory impairments in rat pups. The fact that exercise improves learning ability and memory function is well documented in many previous studies [2,4,6]. In our study, maternal LPS-injection deteriorated short-term memory and treadmill running ameliorated this impairments of short-term memory of the cerebral palsy rat pups.

Two important effects of physical exercise are facilitating neurogenesis and suppressing apoptosis [4,25,26]. Zhang et al. [9] demonstrated that physical exercise promoted cell proliferation, thereby, improved functional recovery. Cho et al. [27] revealed that treadmill running facilitated cell proliferation, which was assessed by BrdU immunohistochemistry, in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of the depressive rats. In our study, BrdU-positive cell number was decreased in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of the cerebral palsy rat pups, whereas, treadmill running enhanced this BrdU-positive cell number of the cerebral palsy rat pups. DNA fragmentation, one of the characteristics of apoptotic cell death, can be detected by TUNEL staining [4,6]. TUNEL-positive cell number in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was enhanced after transient global ischemia, however at their study, treadmill exercise decreased this TUNEL-positive cell number [25]. Treadmill exercise reduced the mRNA expressions of apoptotic factors in cerebral ischemic rats [26]. In our study, hippocampal TUNEL-positive cell number was enhanced in the cerebral palsy rats, whereas, treadmill exercise reduced this TUNEL-positive cell number of the cerebral palsy rat pups.

The PI3K-Akt pathway has a lot involvement in the neuronal proliferation, neuronal survival, and glucose metabolism [28]. PI3K-Akt activation facilitates new cell generation and survival, and then PI3K-Akt signaling exerts a protective role against diverse neuropsychiatric diseases [2,29,30]. Physical exercise is known to activate this pathway and prevent cognitive decline [30]. Fang et al. [31] demonstrated that treadmill exercise activated PI3K-Akt signaling, and then improved hippocampal function. In our study, hippocampal p-PI3K/PI3K ratio was declined in the cerebral palsy rat pups, however, treadmill exercise restored this p-PI3K/PI3K ratio through increasing PI3K phosphorylation of the cerebral palsy rat pups. In addition, hippocampal p-Akt/Akt ratio was decreased in the cerebral palsy rat pups, however, treadmill running increased this p-Akt/Akt ratio by increasing Akt phosphorylation of the cerebral palsy rat pups.

PI3K-Akt-Wnt signaling pathway regulates neurogenesis [17]. Hippocampal Wnt expression was increased after voluntary exercise [12,15]. In our study, hippocampal Wnt expression was declined in the cerebral palsy rats, however, treadmill running elevated this Wnt expression of the cerebral palsy rat pups.

The effects of GSK-3β on developmental processes are influenced by Wnt signaling. Activation of the Wnt signaling pathway causes inhibition of GSK-3β. GSK-3β suppresses neurogenesis by negatively regulating the proliferation of neural precursors. [12]. In our study, p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β ratio was increased in the cerebral palsy rats, however, treadmill exercise decreased this p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β ratio by suppressing GSK-3β phosphorylation of the cerebral palsy rat pups.

Because of β-catenin is a main ingredient of Wnt signaling, GSK-3β is tightly linked in the Wnt pathway. β-Catenin is also a well-known substrate of GSK-3β. Inhibition of Wnt pathway causes β-catenin phosphorylation by GSK-3β, in contrast, activation of Wnt signaling led to inhibition of GSK-3β and stabilization of cytoplasmic β-catenin [17]. In our study, hippocampal β-catenin expression was potentiated in the cerebral palsy rats, however, treadmill running reduced this β-catenin level of the cerebral palsy rat pups.

Jung and Kim [2] showed that treadmill exercise improved motor ability and memory function of the cerebral palsy rats. This improvement of exercise on symptoms of cerebral palsy occurred through PI3K-Akt pathway activation [2]. As PI3K pathway is associated with urologic disorders including malignancies [32], PI3K signaling appeared as the therapeutic targeting of urologic disorders.

In our study, treadmill exercise ameliorated maternal LPS-induced impairments of short-term memory by enhancing neuronal generation and decreasing apoptotic cell death. Neuronal generation was facilitated via activating PI3K-Akt-Wnt pathway, and then led to GSK-3β inhibition and β-catenin stabilization. The results of this study showed that short-term memory improvement due to treadmill running in cerebral palsy occurs via activation of the PI3K-Akt-Wnt pathway.

Notes

Research Ethics

All animal experimental procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Kyung Hee University (KHUASP[SE]-16-108), and performed in accordance with the National Institute of Health Council for the management and use of laboratory animals.

Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT

·Full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis: JWC

·Study concept and design: JWJ, JHH

·Acquisition of data: SYJ, DYK

·Analysis and interpretation of data: SYJ, DYK

·Drafting of the manuscript: JWC

·Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: JWJ, JHH

·Statistical analysis: SYJ, DYK

·Administrative, technical, or material support: YRC, HHC

·Study supervision: JWJ, JHH

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Article information Continued

Fig. 1.

Effect of treadmill exercise on the short-term memory. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Fig. 2.

Effect of treadmill exercise on cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Upper panel: Photomicrographs of 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. The scale bar represents 200 µm. Lower panel: Number of BrdU-positive cells in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P <0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Fig. 3.

Effect of treadmill exercise on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Upper panel: Photomicrographs of TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. The scale bar represents 200 µm. Lower panel: Number of TUNEL-positive cells in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P <0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Fig. 4.

Effect of treadmill exercise on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K) expressions in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expressions of PI3K and p-PI3K in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative PI3K and p-PI3K ratio in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Fig. 5.

Effect of treadmill exercise on protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) expressions in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expressions of Akt and p-Akt in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative Akt and p-Akt ratio in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Fig. 6.

Effect of treadmill exercise on Wnt-3 expression in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expressions of Wnt3 and β-actin in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative Wnt-3 expressions in each group. A, Control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Fig. 7.

Effects of treadmill exercise on glycogen synthase kinase3β (GSK-3β) and phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) expressions in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expressions of GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative GSK-3β/p-GSK-3β ratio in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.

Fig. 8.

Effects of treadmill exercise on β-catenin expression in the hippocampus. Upper panel: Representative expression of β-catenin and β-actin in the hippocampus. Lower panel: Relative β-catenin expressions in each group. A, control group; B, exercise group; C, cerebral palsy group; D, cerebral palsy and exercise group. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. # P<0.05 compared to the cerebral palsy group.