Effects of intrinsic aerobic capacity and ovariectomy on voluntary wheel running and nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor gene expression.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Rats selectively bred for high (HCR) and low (LCR) aerobic capacity show a stark divergence in wheel running behavior, which may be associated with the dopamine (DA) system in the brain. HCR possess greater motivation for voluntary running along with greater brain DA activity compared to LCR. We recently demonstrated that HCR are not immune to ovariectomy (OVX)-associated reductions in spontaneous cage (i.e. locomotor) activity. Whether HCR and LCR rats differ in their OVX-mediated voluntary wheel running response is unknown.

Purpose

To determine whether HCR are protected from OVX-associated reduction in voluntary wheel running.

Methods

Forty female HCR and LCR rats (age ~27weeks) had either SHM or OVX operations, and given access to a running wheel for 11w

SUBMITTER: Park YM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4983202 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature