Treadmill exercise promotes retinal astrocyte plasticity and protects against retinal degeneration in a mouse model of light-induced retinal degeneration.

ABSTRACT: Exercise is an effective neuroprotective intervention that preserves retinal function and structure in several animal models of retinal degeneration. However, the retinal cell types governing exercise-induced neuroprotection remain elusive. Previously, we found exercise-induced retinal neuroprotection was associated with increased levels of retinal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and required intact signal transduction with its high-affinity receptor, tropomyosin kinase B (TrkB). Brain studies have shown astrocytes express BDNF and TrkB and that decreased BDNF-TrkB signaling in astrocytes contributes to neurodegeneration. Additionally, exercise has been shown to alter astrocyte morphology. Using a light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD) model, we investigated how exercise influe

SUBMITTER: Bales KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9746889 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature