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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Aug 1;20(8):e0309259.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309259. eCollection 2025.

Biochemical neuroplasticity in the cerebellum after physical exercise: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Marcio Gonçalves Corrêa  1 , Thais Alves Lobão  1 , Gabriel Mesquita da Conceição Bahia  1 , Erica Miranda Sanches Aires  1 , Rebeca da Costa Gomes  1 , Jeffeson Hildo Medeiros de Queiroz  1 , Marta Chagas Monteiro  2 , Carlomagno Pacheco Bahia  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Biochemical neuroplasticity in the cerebellum after physical exercise: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Marcio Gonçalves Corrêa et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Neuroplasticity is the central nervous system's (CNS) capacity to adapt to injuries or environmental changes. Biochemical neuroplasticity is one such adaptation that may occur in response to physical exercise (PE). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of PE on cerebellar biochemical neuroplasticity.

Methods: Following the PICO strategy, this review included in vivo studies with small rodents (Population) subjected to well-defined PE protocols (Intervention) and compared to non-exercised controls (Comparator) to assess cerebellar biochemical alterations (Outcome). Studies published between January 1976 and July 2024 without language restrictions were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central databases. Data were synthesized through meta-analyses and methodological quality was assessed by the SYRCLE risk of bias tool.

Results: Out of 3,107 records screened, six studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative and quantitative analyses. All studies had a low or unclear risk of bias. Markers of biochemical neuroplasticity assessed included superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GR), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione disulphide (GSSG) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Meta-analyses showed that moderate-volume PE significantly reduced LPO (SMD = -2.41; 95% CI: -3.89 to -0.93), while high-volume PE increased LPO (SMD = 4.55; 95% CI: 1.92 to 7.18). Low-intensity or low-volume PE did not significantly alter oxidative markers.

Conclusions: PE induces either adaptive or maladaptive biochemical neuroplasticity in the cerebellum depending on protocol variables. While enzymatic activity responds to cellular changes and limits nervous tissue protection, adaptive biochemical neuroplasticity seems to confer greater resistance and efficiency.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flowchart of the database search following the PRISMA statement.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Qualitative risk of bias assessment for included studies.
Green, yellow, and red circles indicate low, unclear, and high risk of bias, respectively.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Summary of reviewer’s judgments for each domain presented as percentages.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Meta-analysis of high-volume PE groups versus controls.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Meta-analysis of moderate-volume PE groups versus controls.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Schematic drawing of the modulation of PE-induced biochemical neuroplasticity.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Schematic drawing of neuroprotective metabolic pathways induced by moderate PE after ethanol consumption.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Schematic drawing of the metabolic pathways involved in PE-induced adaptive (A) and maladaptive (B) neuroplasticity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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