Voluntary exercise increases oligodendrogenesis in spinal cord

Abstract

Exercise has been shown to increase hippocampal neurogenesis, but the effects of exercise on oligodendrocyte generation have not yet been reported. In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that voluntary exercise may affect neurogenesis, and more in particular, oligodendrogenesis in the thoracic segment of the intact spinal cord of adult nestinGFP transgenic mice. Voluntary exercise for 7 and 14 days increased nestinGFP expression around the ependymal area. In addition, voluntary exercise for 7 days significantly increased nestinGFP expression in both the white and gray matter of the thoracic segment of the intact spinal cord, whereas, 14-day exercise decreased nestinGFP expression. Markers for immature oligodendrocytes (transferrin and CNPase) were significantly increased after 7 days of voluntary exercise. These results suggest that voluntary exercise positively influences oligodendrogenesis in the intact spinal cord, emphasizing the beneficial effects of voluntary exercise as a possible co-treatment for spinal cord injury.