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Sex Differences in Neurophysiological Changes Following Voluntary Exercise in Adolescent Rats.

ABSTRACT: Background: Adolescence is a period of time characterized by the onset of puberty and is marked by cognitive and social developments and gross physical changes that can play a role in athletic performance. Sex differences are present with differences in body size, height, physiology and behavior which contribute to differences in athletic performance as well. Pre-clinical studies representing this active group are lacking. Methods: Acute and chronic effects of exercise were evaluated. Male and female adolescent rats were given voluntary access to a running wheel for 10 consecutive days. Running behavior (males and females) and estrous cycling (females only) were analyzed daily. A second group was given 10 days of voluntary access to a running wheel, then rested for 10 days to determine the long-term effects of exercise on the adolescent brain. Brain and muscle tissue were harvested at 10 and 20 day time points to understand exercise-dependent changes in mitochondrial activity and neuroplasticity. Animal cohorts were carried out at two different sites: University of California Los Angeles and Pepperdine University. Results: On average, running distance, intensity of run, and length of running bout increased for both male and female rats across the 10 days measured. Females ran significantly further and for longer intervals compared to males. Cortical and muscle expression of PGC1α showed similar levels at 10 days regardless of sex and exercise. There was a significant increase in expression at 20 days in all groups correlating with body size (p's < 0.05). Cortical and hippocampal levels of BDNF were similar across all groups, however, BDNF was significantly higher in exercised females at the acute compared to long-term time point. Discussion: Adolescent rats allowed 10 days of exercise show changes in physiologic function. There are sex differences in running behavior not impacted by sex hormones. These results are important to further our understanding of how exercise impacts the adolescent brain.

SUBMITTER: Ferguson L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8339288 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Background and aimsSubstance use has been implicated in the onset and maintenance of risky sexual behaviors, which have particularly devastating consequences in young women. This study examined whether (i) adolescent onset of cannabis use is associated with repeated voluntary unprotected sex in women and (ii) whether this association persists after accounting for correlated familial influences.DesignGeneral population sample of female twins.SettingMidwestern United States.ParticipantsA total of 2784 sexually active twin women (15.5% African American) aged 18-27 years (assessed 2002-05), including 119 dizygotic (DZ) and 115 monozygotic (MZ) discordant pairs.MeasurementsSelf-report interview data on cannabis use that first occurred prior to age 17 (27.1%) and repeated voluntary unprotected sex (27.2%). Key covariates included early onset of regular drinking, regular smoking, sexual debut and menstruation as well as conduct disorder symptoms and childhood sexual abuse.FindingsCompared with never users and those who started using cannabis at a later age, adolescent cannabis users were more likely to report repeated voluntary unprotected sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.24-3.22]. Genetic (rg = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38-0.87) and non-shared environmental (re = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.02-0.38) factors contributed to the association. After accounting for correlated familial factors, there was a consistent elevation in the likelihood of repeated voluntary unprotected sex in the exposed twin relative to her genetically identical never/late-onset user co-twin (unadjusted OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.14-4.44), even after adjustment for covariates (adjusted OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.08-4.80).ConclusionsWomen who start using cannabis during adolescence appear to be more likely to report voluntary engagement in repeated unprotected sex than women who never use cannabis or who initiate cannabis use after adolescence. The results appear to be independent of shared genetic influences.

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Sex Differences in Neurophysiological Changes Following Voluntary Exercise in Adolescent Rats.

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