| Previous studies have shown that physical activity improves learning
and memory. Present study was performed to determine the effects of
acute, chronic and continuous exercise with different periods on spatial
learning and memory recorded as the latency and length of swim path
in the Morris water maze testing in subsequent 8 days. Four rat groups
were included as follows: 1- Group C (controls which did not exercise).
2- Group A (30 days treadmill running before and 8 days during the
Morris water maze testing period). 3- Group B (30 days exercise before
the Morris water maze testing period only) and 4- Group D (8 days
exercise only during the Morris water maze testing period). The results
showed that chronic (30 days) and continuous (during 8 days of Morris
water maze testing days) treadmill training produced a significant
enhancement in spatial learning and memory which was indicated by
decreases in path length and latency to reach the platform in the
Morris water maze test (p < 0.05). The benefits in these tests
were lost in three days, if the daily running session was abandoned.
In group D with acute treadmill running (8 days exercise only) the
difference between the Group A disappeared in one week and benefit
seemed to be obtained in comparison with the controls without running
program. In conclusion the chronic and daily running exercises promoted
learning and memory in Morris water maze, but the benefits were lost
in few days without daily running sessions in adult rats.
KEY
WORDS: Exercise,
spatial memory, hippocampus, Morris water maze.
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