Abstract #3751

Longitudinal Effects of Irradiation and Voluntary Exercise on Hippocampal Gray Matter Loss

Sarah Biedermann¹, Johannes Fuss², Claudia Falfn-Melgoza³, Lei Zheng³, Alexander Sartorius³, Gabi Ende¹, Peter Gass², Wolfgang Weber-Fahr³

¹Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; ²Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; ³Translational Imaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

To reveal underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced gray matter increase, mice underwent hippocampal irradiation, blocking hippocampal neurogenesis, followed by voluntary wheel-running. Voxel based morphometry was performed before and after the exercise period. Age related decreased hippocampal gray matter was seen in all mice after the treatment period. Sham irradiated running mice had higher hippocampal gray matter compared to sedentary mice and a decreased loss of hippocampal gray matter over time, whereas irradiated mice did not have higher hippocampal gray matter after exercise. These findings indicate mechanisms of neuroplasticity in exercise induced hippocampal alterations.