One single physical exercise session improves memory persistence by hippocampal activation of D1 dopamine receptors and PKA signaling in rats

Abstract

Previously, we demonstrated that one single physical exercise session could positively modulate recognition memory persistence by D1/D5 activation. Here, we aim to investigate whether the effect of physical exercise on memory occurs due to the activation of both receptors, D1 and D5, or only one of them. Adult male Wistar rats were habituated on a treadmill one week before experiments. After learning session in the object recognition task, some animals received intrahippocampal infusions of the vehicle or a D1/D5 agonist (SKF 38393, 12.5 μg/μL/side), whereas others performed a single session of physical exercise on a treadmill (30 min at an intensity of 60-70% of indirect VO2 max.). Immediately after physical exercise, some animals received intrahippocampal infusions of vehicle or D1/D5 antagonist (SCH 23390, 1 μg/μL/side). Signaling pathways of D1 and D5 receptors in the hippocampus were evaluated by pharmacological activation or inactivation of protein kinases A (PKA) and C (PKC), respectively. According to previous findings, D1/D5 agonist and a single physical exercise session after learning promoted memory persistence, and D1/D5 block impaired physical exercise effect. Importantly, here we demonstrated for the first time that PKA inhibition, but not PKC, impairs the effect of acute physical exercise on memory persistence. Besides, PKA stimulation can promote its effects on memory. Therefore, we provide evidence that corroborates the idea that D1-like dopaminergic receptors, by activation of the PKA pathway, are involved in the effects of acute physical exercise on memory.