The effect of eight weeks of aerobic training and Ritalin on hippocampus Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in hyperactive rats

Introduction: Recently increased an expansion of interest in non-pharmacological interventions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The aim of this study to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training and Ritalin on hippocampus Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in hyperactive rats. Methods: To implementation of this experimental research, 33 Wistar rats (weigh, 180-220g) were randomly divided into 5 groups: 1) Healthy control, 2) Hyperactivity, 3) Hyperactivity-Aerobic training, 4) Hyperactivity-Ritalin, and 5) Hyperactivity -Aerobic training -Ritalin and returned to the open field test. To induce ADHD in the rats, injected 10 mg/kg of L-NAME for 8 weeks and 6 days per week based on weight of the rats. The drug group received 1 mg oral Ritalin per kg weight of rats daily for 8 weeks. The rats performed aerobic training 30 minutes at day and 7 days of week for 8 weeks. The level of the hippocampus BDNF was measured using ELISA kit. Data were analyzed by ANCOVA, one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test at p≤0.05. Results: The results showed that aerobic training led to significant increase in the levels of hippocampal BDNF in hyperactive rats (p<0/05). Ritalin increased the level of hippocampal BDNF in hyperactive rats (p=0.001). Also, Aerobic training with Ritalin significantly increased the level of hippocampal BDNF in hyperactive rats (p=0.001). Conclusion: Aerobic training with Ritalin led to increase in the level of hippocampal BDNF in hyperactive rats.